Understanding lost person behaviour in the Australian wilderness for search and rescue

Abstract

Search and rescue personnel and volunteers spend thousands of hours attempting to rescue and ultimately save the lives of lost people. One of the most effective ways to increase the speed of locating a lost person is by predicting the highest probable areas they may be located in and determining search areas around them. This study examined the demographics and behaviour of people lost in the Australian wilderness from the perspective of search and rescue authorities and lost people themselves in order to assess similarities between types of lost people. The aggregated behaviour characteristics can then be used to improve search and rescue outcomes by predicting lost person behaviour specific to the Australian wilderness. This study found that different demographic groupings can be expected to behave differently when lost in the wilderness. By using the probable characteristics and behaviours of a lost person, search areas can be better targeted, assisting in locating a lost person faster and improving the outcomes of the search. The results from this study provide insights into behavioural trends and characteristics that can assist in the planning of search areas for search and rescue incidents in the Australian wilderness.