Science and Technology Directorate highlights role of its Coast Guard Search and Rescue Visual Analytics system

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate recently issued a press release highlighting its Coast Guard Search and Rescue Visual Analytics (cgSARVA) system.

cgSARVA, a visual, user-centered platform, helps USCG decision-makers identify boat stations most capable of responding to incidents and helps them to prioritize the restoration of stations in need of repair.

It has also played a role in the Coast Guard’s initiated Station Optimization Process by helping USCG to identify boat stations that could be closed because they provide overlapping and unnecessarily duplicative search and rescue (SAR) coverage. This process helped USCG to achieve cost savings without impeding its ability to meet its (SAR) response standard and carry out its other missions.

USCG, alongside the U.S. Government Accountability Office, is currently using the tool to look at the broader scope of its operations to learn more about the strengths of different stations and determine where they can be put to their best use.

S&T’s Office of University Programs (OUP) funded the tool, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Visualization and Data Analytics (CVADA), which is co-led by Purdue University through the Visual Analytics Command, Control and Interoperability Environments (VACCINE) Center, developed it.

“This is an example of how we [OUP] enable DHS components and universities to work together to address high-priority and mission needs,” Dr. Matthew Clark, director of the OUP, S&T Research and Development Partnerships, said.