Field notes

Field notes from search and rescue operations

Practical writing for the people who run callouts — how a search area gets divided, what the first hour actually costs, and where the technology helps once the weather turns.

Search tactics07 AUG 20269 min read

Search sector planning: how to divide a search area so nothing gets missed

Drawing polygons on a map is the easy part. Deciding which polygon a team walks first, and knowing what "searched" actually means, is where operations are won or lost.

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Mission map with numbered search sectors, assigned teams and coverage percentages

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Operations dashboard during an active callout: alert, responding rescuers and resource readiness

Coordination07 AUG 202610 min read

The first 60 minutes of a callout: what a rescue coordinator actually does

The hour between the phone ringing and the first team stepping off the road decides most of what follows. Here is that hour, broken into the decisions that matter and the ones that only feel urgent.

The rescuer mobile app showing the mission map with the team position and assigned sector

Technology and privacy07 AUG 202611 min read

GPS tracking of rescue teams: what works in the field, and what only works in the demo

Live positions on a map are the single biggest upgrade a search operation can make. They are also the feature most likely to disappoint, because a gorge does not care about anyone's product roadmap.