*** Theory of Search Textbook ***

Wed Oct 23 07:34:26 1996
Message : #1694477606    From: Name
Address : fname
Group   : Usenet.misc.emerg-services
Length  : 208 words
Subject : The Theory of Search (new textbook available no charge)
Org.  : USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard is offering the newly-published book THE THEORY
OF SEARCH electronically to those involved in search and rescue at no
charge.

You can get a copy at the following address:

http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/marcomms/imo/search.zip (644Kb)
        (Theory of Search, less Chapter 3)
http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/marcomms/imo/search1.zip (1Mb)
        (Theiry of Search Chapter 3)

or from ftp://ftp.navcen.uscg.mil/marcomms/imo/

The purpose of this paper is to provide the search and rescue (SAR)
community with a single document explaining the scientific basis for
search planning. Both the Simplified Search Planning Method (SSPM),
in place for the last 50 years or so, and recently proposed
refinements collectively called the Improved Search Planning Method
(ISPM), share this basis. The only difference between the two methods
is that the ISPM is a more complete and flexible implementation of
basic search theory than the SSPM.

The main body of this paper explains the basic theory of search.
In the last chapter, a comparison is made between the SSPM and ISPM
to show which method produces search plans having the best chance of
succeeding.

This document was prepared by Mr. J. R. Frost of Soza & Company, Ltd.,
of Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.A., in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Joe Hersey (jhersey@comdt.uscg.mil)
USCG

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