Nelson Search and Rescue caving exercise goes satellite

A homegrown solution that takes satellite provided high speed broadband internet access to rugged and inaccessible parts of New Zealand is to be used for the first time in a caving Search and Rescue exercise in Nelson during the weekend of 26 – 28 February.



The national exercise, held every three years, will take place at Takaka Hill and will be based around a scenario of a lost caver. Over seventy LandSAR volunteers from around the country, all trained cave rescue specialists, will take part.



The unique portable satellite unit will be based at the cave mouth and will provide a vital link back to the emergency control centre in Motueka.



For years, those involved in Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) have recognised the enormous potential value of broadband internet access to remote search sites. This would provide Search and Rescue staff with access to e mail, the telephone network and to web sites that can provide up to date information such as mapping, aerial photos, weather data and forecasts.



Satellite technology has been used in the past for telephone communications, but at a very high cost high cost.



Alan Thompson, a volunteer with Wellington LandSAR for six years, turned his IT and telecommunication talents to the problem and came up with a typical Kiwi Number 8 wire solution: Portable satellite communications based on ‘off the shelf’ technology with proven reliable performance and New Zealand based support.



With sponsorship from Farmside, a rural communications provider that delivers high speed broadband via fixed satellite dish to into rural properties, Alan was the first in New Zealand to develop a system that was fully portable – and could be taken into remote and rugged search locations where it can be quickly deployed without specialist skills to provide vital information that can help save lives.



Farmside were very keen to be involved in the project. Tony Baird, Farmside CEO says the project has not only helped a vital New Zealand service find people faster and save lives, but also provided a perfect testing platform for Farmside technology.



“We have been delighted to play a role in bringing help to people even faster than with existing technology, and we have been able to confirm that adaptability of our satellite delivered broadband – it really does provide high speed broadband in the most challenging and unreachable terrain,” he says.



A satellite dish, a tripod and a box of electronics means search and rescue teams can now have communication from extremely isolated sites back to headquarters and can feed and receive a whole range of information via the IPstar satellite using Farmside sponsored equipment and bandwidth.



Alan Thompson says the huge benefit of the unique portable satellite system is that it opens up the power of the Internet to Search and Rescue staff who are at remote locations in the field.



The benefit alone of an Internet based phone connection to a remote search location can make a significant difference to the outcome of an operation. In addition, remote access to Internet based services such as e mail, Google, Google Earth, and SKYPE put the power of the Internet right at the front line of New Zealand Land Search and Rescue.