InternetSAR.org

Volunteers Assisting Search and Rescue via the Internet

The mission of InternetSAR.org is to develop and promote the use of the Internet to conduct collaborative analysis of aerial and satellite imagery during search and rescue operations to help locate down or missing aircraft or vessels.

This site and effort to organize an Internet based SAR organization for the purpose of analyzing aerial imagery has grown out of the Internet search effort for aviator Steve Fossett who disappeared on September 3, 2007, in southern Nevada. The desire was to take everything that was learned from the online Fossett search effort and build a truly efficient set of tools and processes that could become a cost effective and highly productive aid to the efforts of find missing aircraft.

Experienced Imagery Analysts and SAR Observers Always Needed

If you are an experienced Imagery Analyst or SAR observer and would be willing to volunteer to help us evaluate objects our members have reported through our search efforts as needing further review, please contact us with your credentials.   

Status Update March 31, 2008

Status update highlights: third pass of Digital Globe imagery for the Ron Boychuk search effort has been completed; reported object forwarded on to Boychuk family and RCMP; future search plans; a big thank you for tremendous outpouring of help evaluating imagery.

Ron Boychuk Search Launched - Dec. 24, 2007

At the request of the Boychuk search team, we have launched a collaborative analysis effort of satellite imagery captured by DigitalGlobe shortly after Ron disappeared.  Ron Boychuk disappeared on October 23, 2007, on his way home while flying alone in a Cessna 172 plane. Ron departed from Revelstoke, Canada, en route to the Vancouver Island community of Qualicum, Canada, and never arrived. To participate in this search effort, you will need to create a user account if you have not already done so.

Steve Fossett Search Relaunched - Dec. 5, 2007

We are excited to announce that we are launching an entirely new effort to find Steve Fossett using previously unreleased imagery. As we are still working to develop this site and bring things up to speed, there may still be a few bugs and issues to work out.  If something does not work as expected or you get an unexpected error message, please contact us with details about the error.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

DO NOT CONTACT SAR AUTHORITIES DIRECTLY WITH FINDINGS FROM IMAGERY

ABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are InternetSAR.org participants to report objects found in imagery we provide directly to search authorities. ALL REPORTS of possible findings MUST be reported through our reporting page for the relevant search. Also, InternetSAR.org participants may not provide our KML/KMZ overlay files to third parties (e.g. via email) nor may our KML/KMZ overlays be uploaded other websites without the express consent of InternetSAR.org. Failure to abide by this policy may result in termination of the participant's account. The reason for this policy is that our systems are set up to manage and filter reports for search teams and those who bypass our reporting system can actually impede the efforts of search teams.

Who speaks for us

The only individuals who are authorized to speak on the behalf of InternetSAR.org will be able to send and receive email from addresses at InternetSAR.org.  If there is ever a question about someone's authority to speak on our behalf, please contact us via our contact form.