Summer Scholarship Student: Andrew Parnell

Andrew Parnell is currently undertaking a summer research scholarship for the Search and Rescue Institute of New Zealand (SARINZ).  Andrew is due to start the Masters of Geographic Information Science (MGIS) in February of this year. 

Andrew at Parque Nacional Tierra Del Fuego, Ushuaia, Argentina

Andrew Parnell: Search and Rescue Institute of New Zealand

As part of the summer scholarship scheme at VUW, this summer I was chosen to complete a project proposed by SARINZ. Using data from New Zealand from 2003-2012, the project analyses whether watersheds form an appropriate model for search areas of lost persons in the New Zealand wilderness.

Lost person statistics include locations of where lost persons were last known to be and where they were found.  Using information about the lost person (such as activity, mental and physical capacity, and age), a person’s behaviour can be used to narrow down the most likely areas where they will be found.

I compare the locations of where the lost person was last known to be and where they were found for each incident. As a result, each incident is classified as one of the following; found in the same catchment as the last known location; in a watershed adjacent to the last known location or; in a watershed further afield.

The use of statistical analysis in informing searches for lost persons is increasingly common as data and analysis techniques have improved.  The results of this project will expand existing statistical modeling for lost person behaviour. If the watershed analysis is effective, it will make future search operations more efficient, faster and increasing the likelihood of finding lost persons.