The diversity and vastness of Canada's landscapes offer a unique challenge when it comes to search and rescue (SAR) operations, and regular improvements are key to saving people when they are in distress.
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced $252,000 in funding to the Toronto Metropolitan University for their two-year initiative entitled End-to-end solution for dynamic tasks allocation in search and rescue missions.
Public Safety will fund the initiative through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF), which annually provides funding for projects that will improve Canada's search and rescue system.
With this new funding, Toronto Metropolitan University will develop a new technology solution to determine the optimal assignment of tasks to SAR volunteers, based on the complexity and their experience.
Using virtual reality and real-life simulations of SAR missions, the project will track SAR volunteers' state of physical and mental fatigue to build a model and tool that optimizes performance. During real-life missions, the new tool will help with assigning tasks, planning work-rest schedules, training to decrease stress and the likelihood and severity of post-traumatic stress injury.
Canada's SAR system is built on the dedication and hard work of professionals and volunteers. The Government of Canada is committed to advancing search and rescue to minimize Canadians' risk of injury or loss of life.
