Underwater Search &
Rescue (UWSAR) Systems
Underwater Search & Rescue (UWSAR) Systems
India is a signatory to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) 1979, ratified in May 2001. The mechanism and the resources available so far are able to take care of the surface targets of near coast events. However, the preparedness for undertaking Underwater Search and Rescue (UWSAR) merits attention on multiple fronts. The tropical littoral conditions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) further complicate the UWSAR efforts due to the massive sub-optimal performance of the Sonars deployed for the purpose. Right from policy to technology & innovation and also human resource development, the enormity of the problem demands that we have a calibrated approach and we formulate a short term, mid-term and long term strategy to gradually develop effective capabilities to handle the complete UWSAR requirement in the IOR.
The tropical littoral waters in the IOR present very unique challenge of sub-optimal performance of the sonar systems deployed for the SAR role. The acoustic propagation of the sonar signals ensure more than 60% degradation in the detection and classification capabilities. The import of systems form the global powers particularly for the underwater surveillance and object identification has been a grey area. Indigenous capability development has been a work in progress.
Apart from the sensors, the platform on which the sonar sensors will be mounted for accessing the deep ocean is again a critical aspect that merits attention. The ship borne surface sensors have significant limitations in terms of accuracy and also quality of survey. The variability of the bottom type& profile, the depth aspects and medium fluctuations further add to the challenge.Underwater manned/unmanned vehicles will be of relevance, but appropriate selection of the deployment platform will be the key.
The initiation of the search, search pattern, deployment of sensors and the platforms and much more requires massive M&S exercise to be able to undertake an effective UWSAR operation. High end data science, signal processing and environmental modelling & simulation hardware and software infrastructure is a critical requirement. Right from material and human resource will be required to manage such a high end R&D facility.
- Initial GAP analysis of the ongoing efforts and infrastructure available.The challenges and opportunities will be analyzed.
- Policy review at the national, regional and global level on the subject and draft proposal to address the responsibility in a comprehensive manner.
- The infrastructure and human resource requirement will be planned and detailed proposal submitted.
- The interaction with the other agencies within and outside the national boundary will be planned and executed through the appropriate authorities within. Draft MoUs will be provided as required.
- Possible short term courses will be proposed and executed for select officers to lead the initiative on UWSAR. formulation.
- Initial GAP analysis of the ongoing efforts and infrastructure available.The challenges and opportunities will be analyzed.
- Policy review at the national, regional and global level on the subject and draft proposal to address the responsibility in a comprehensive manner.
- The infrastructure and human resource requirement will be planned and detailed proposal submitted.
- The interaction with the other agencies within and outside the national boundary will be planned and executed through the appropriate authorities within. Draft MoUs will be provided as required.
- Possible short term courses will be proposed and executed for select officers to lead the initiative on UWSAR.
- Possibility of recovering any human life involved in the incident. The urgency gets pushed to a different level.
- Assessment of the area and proximity to land. This will determine the logistics and also search equipment to be deployed.
- Marking of the last known position and environmental parameters at the time of the incident. This will facilitate planning of the entire UWSAR.
- Simulation and prediction exercise to plan the entire search (both point of start and search pattern). Statistical methods are used with inputs on the local environmental parameters and physical parameters of the surface and the bottom. This will require state-of-the-art data processing and analysis hardware and software given the real time requirements. A capable research team will be required to plan and execute the entire simulation and prediction exercise.
- The simulation exercise will determine the platform and the sensors to be deployed. The mobilization of the entire SAR effort will commence based on these inputs. Underwater specialist, acoustic signal processing and data science experts along with the appropriate R&D infrastructure needs to be deployed in quick time to initiate the entire operations.
- The debrief of the UWSAR operation should feed into the data base to be able to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) based tools subsequently. The AI based tools are data hungry and more the data made available, they will be able to give faster and appropriate response in the subsequent episodes.
(Six months to two years)
The equipment & platform and probably even the deployment teams may have to be hired. Simulation and data analytics by the knowledge partner. Planning and execution in an outsourced model.
(Up to five years)
The equipment can be hired, however the platforms and the execution could be
in-house effort. The Simulation and data analytics will remain with the knowledge partner. A partial out sourced model.
(Beyond five years)
We will develop in-house capabilities and capacities to be able to manage the entire operation on our own. The consultant may just provide outside support and guidance. We will develop own infrastructure and human resource to drive the entire programme on our own.