Analysis on vehicle and walking speeds of search and rescue ground crews in mountainous areas

In recent times, the growing number of people enjoying nature-based tourism and recreation activities has led to an increase in search and rescue (SAR) missions in mountainous areas. During SAR responses time is of essence, and the speed of SAR ground responses is affected largely by the mode of transportation and the road and trail network. This study presents a detailed analysis of vehicle and walking speeds of SAR ground crews along a secondary transportation network and on off-trail areas, culminating in mode-specific regression models. Thereafter, these models are integrated into GIS to generate maps of the total accumulative travel time of a rescue area. This GIS model is then evaluated by calculating likely rescue times when using small All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) as an alternative to 4WD cars.The results show that vehicle speeds strongly depend on the quality of the secondary transportation network in terms of roughness and gradient. The spatial analysis in the GIS model reveals that the alternative use of small ATV can reduce the total cumulative travel time of SAR crews significantly, especially in areas where the quality of the secondary transportation network is poor.Management implicationsWith the ever increasing popularity of mountain-based outdoor activities, search and rescue (SAR) missions in challenging terrain are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, a rigorous analysis of the effectiveness of modes of transport as a function of terrain characteristics is an important contribution to SAR operations. The study finds that:
• A GIS based rescue concept is recommended as a precautionary measure in all mountainous areas; it should include trail characteristics to document the accessibility of the management area.
• An ATV is most likely the best means of ground transportation, especially when searching for missing recreationists and for providing first aid.
• In areas with frequent accidents it might worthwhile to consider improving trail conditions for ATV access.