The Government of India has recently upgraded its Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) to enhance operational efficiency for search and rescue agencies.
Objective & Significance
- The Government of India has upgraded SARAT (Search and Rescue Aid Tool) to Version 2.
- Enhances operational efficiency for search and rescue agencies in the Indian Ocean region.
- Aims to provide faster response times and higher success rates.
Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT)
- Launched in: 2016 to assist search and rescue operations at sea.
- Aims to locate individuals/vessels in distress in the shortest possible time.
- Developed by: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
- Initiated under: Make in India program.
Working Mechanism
- Uses model ensembling to account for uncertainties in the initial location & last known time of the missing object.
- Primary factors influencing movement: Ocean currents & winds.
- Based on high-resolution Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS).
- Runs on High-Performance Computers at INCOIS for real-time analysis.
Key Improvements in SARAT Version 2
- More Accurate Search Areas:
- Now based on Last Known Position (LKP) of the object instead of minimum longitude point.
- Improves precision in search area computation.
- Enhanced Data Visualization & Integration:
- Search areas available in digital format for easy integration with rescue planning maps.
- Includes mean particle trajectories, colour-coded search regions, and LKP markers.
Training & Capacity Building
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) conducted training initiatives.
- A national workshop was organized for Indian Coast Guard (ICG) & Airports Authority of India (AAI).
- Over 60 officers trained to effectively use SARAT in real operations.
Continuous Improvement & Feedback Mechanism
- Stakeholder feedback collected during SAR workshops for further refinement.
- Regular lectures & demonstrations ensure updated knowledge for rescue teams.
Future Plans & Enhancements
- Ministry of Earth Sciences aims to improve SARAT’s accuracy by:
- Better surface current & wind predictions.
- Assimilating more ocean observations into ocean circulation models.
- Using High-Frequency (HF) radar for accurate coastal surface current tracking.
Impact: Strengthens India’s maritime search-and-rescue capabilities, improving efficiency & success rates in critical operations.
