InternetSAR.org

About Us

InternetSAR was founded in November 2007 as a result of the collaborative Google Earth/Amazon MTurk Internet imagery search for Steve Fossett, who went missing on September 3, 2007, while flying over southern Nevada. After the Internet search was called off, a group of committed volunteers worked to continue the Internet search effort for Steve Fossett. With some sleuthing, one member of this group figured out how to write the Google Earth KML imagery overlays of available imagery and designed an overlay generator which allowed the Internet search effort to continue.

From this effort to continue the Internet search for Steve Fossett, the group discussed online how the Internet image analysis process used in search and rescue could be developed and improved. Through the discussions and efforts of these volunteers who were so dedicated to finding someone they had never met, InternetSAR.org was born.  You can read these discussions on Google Earth Community BBS (part 1, part 2).

We are a group of volunteers from all over the United States, Canada, and from several countries abroad. Our backgrounds range from search and rescue professionals, pilots, professional image analysts, skydivers, website developers and programmers to people that just have a good eye for detail and have extra time to devote to the search.

Our goal is to develop an efficient and cost-effective Internet imagery analysis search process, so that SAR organizations all over the world can take advantage of this innovative way of using technology to assist rescue efforts.

If you would like to join us and be part of this effort, please register. If you have any questions, please contact us.