Project homeWiki source code of Task division in USAR missions
Last modified by Tjalling Haije on 2025/09/15 09:34
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1.1 | 1 | At a disaster worksite, USAR teams divide tasks among specialized roles to maximize efficiency and safety. **Task division** is coordinated by the team leadership so that search, rescue, and support activities happen in concert. A typical worksite deployment involves: |
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2.1 | 3 | * **Search Operations:** Search specialists and K9 handlers scout the area for signs of life. They use search dogs, listening devices, cameras and drones to locate victims in debris. They mark detected victim locations (using standard symbols) and communicate findings to the rest of the team.((( |
| 4 | [[A search and rescue worker uses a search camera - a long camera on a stick with lights streaming video to a screen - to investigate under rubble. >>image:Firstlook-%E2%80%93-The-importance-of-search-cameras-in-technical-rescue-applications.jpg||data-xwiki-image-style-alignment="center" height="330" width="440"]] | ||
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1.1 | 6 | * **Rescue Operations:** Rescue technicians handle cutting, breaching, lifting and shoring tasks to reach trapped victims. They operate heavy tools (concrete saws, hydraulic breakers) to extricate survivors once located. A **Safety Officer** monitors structural stability while rescues are in progress, to protect both victims and rescuers. |
| 7 | * **Medical and Welfare:** Medics stand by to provide immediate medical care once victims are reached. They may crawl into voids to stabilize a patient before extrication. Meanwhile, team members rotate duties to manage fatigue (e.g. swapping out cutting teams) and ensure hydration and rest – especially important given the intense physical labor. | ||
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2.1 | 8 | * **Site Management & Logistics:** A Worksite Manager (often the USAR Team Leader or designated Sector Leader) oversees all activities at the site. They coordinate between search and rescue teams, manage a worksite action plan, and liaise with external command (LEMA/OSOCC). Logistics staff ensure equipment (power tools, shoring materials) and supplies are available. The worksite is usually organized into zones (hot zone where the collapse is, warm zone for support, cold zone for command post) to control access and safety. |
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| 10 | Collaboration is continuous: as soon as search indicates a live victim, rescue begins targeted debris removal; if hazards are noted, all teams adapt. Communication tools (radios, runners, or digital systems) keep everyone updated on evolving conditions. | ||
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| 12 | //Implications for System Design~:// Supporting **team coordination and real-time information sharing** is vital. The SYNERGISE system should allow search teams to quickly relay victim locations (e.g. digital markers on a map) to rescue teams and notify medical staff to prepare. It should track task assignments and team member status (who is in the hot zone, who is resting) to aid the Worksite Manager in decisions. Designing for **Personas** (e.g. the Tech Search Specialist vs. the Rescue Technician) ensures the interface meets different role needs – for instance, hands-free wearable displays for rescuers who need both hands for tools. The system can also log actions and timings, which not only supports immediate coordination but feeds post-mission **Human Factors** analysis and lessons learned (e.g. how long tasks took, where bottlenecks arose). |