The concept of an innovative rescue system for detecting people buried in snow using UAVs (drones)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55225/sti.679

Keywords:

unmanned aerial vehicles, rescue system, avalanche rescue, BSP, UAV, LVS, Recco, DJI

Abstract

The presented system is a scientific and implementation project carried out at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Applied Sciences in Tarnow in cooperation with the Tatra Volunteer Search and Rescue (TOPR). The aim of the project is to develop a rescue system for individuals buried in snow avalanches, utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle platform (BSP/UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) integrated with an active avalanche transceiver LVS (Lawinenverschütteten-Suchgerät) and, at a later stage, with a passive Recco Rescue Reflector. The use of UAVs (drones) for faster and more precise detection of avalanche-buried victims may significantly enhance the efficiency of rescue operations. Various data may be transmitted to the operator (pilot or supporting personnel), including the UAV’s position determined from GPS signals, as well as information regarding the level and direction of the received LVS and/or Recco signals (reflected from a Recco plate/reflector embedded in clothing or footwear). The analyzed system may additionally support rescuers by marking the location of the highest detected signal intensity, for example by using a release mechanism or color marking.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Rauch S, Strapazzon G, Brugger H. On-site medical management of avalanche victims—a narrative review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(19):10234. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910234   Google Scholar

Procter E, Strapazzon G, Dal Cappello T, Zweifel B, Würtele A, Renner A, Falk M, Brugger H. Burial duration, depth and air pocket explain avalanche survival patterns in Austria and Switzerland. Resuscitation. 2016;105:173–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2016.06.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2016.06.001   Google Scholar

Walcher M, Haegeli P, Fuchs S. Risk of death and major injury from natural winter hazards in helicopter and snowcat skiing in Canada. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. 2019;30(3):251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.04.007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.04.007   Google Scholar

Rauch S, Brugger H, Falk M, Zweifel B, DStrapazzon G, Albrecht R, Pietsch U. Avalanche survival rates in Switzerland, 1981–2020. JAMA Network Open. 2024;7(9):e2435253. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.35253   Google Scholar

Silvagni M, Tonoli A, Zenerino E, Chiaberge M. Multipurpose UAV for search and rescue operations in mountain avalanche events. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk. 2016;8(1):18–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2016.1238852. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2016.1238852   Google Scholar

Girsberger Mountain Rescue. Avalanche Beacon Service [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 10]. Available from: https://www.girsberger-elektronik.ch/has457-helicopter-antenna-system?lang=en.   Google Scholar

ETSI. EN300718 (Avalanche Beacons operating at 457 kHz; Transmitter-receiver systems; Part 1: Harmonised Standard for access to radio spectrum) [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 10]. Available from: https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/300700_300799/30071801/02.02.01_60/en_30071801v020201p.pdf.   Google Scholar

DJI. Payload SDK [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 10]. Available from: https://developer.dji.com/doc/payload-sdk-tutorial/en.   Google Scholar

Iob P, Frau L, Danieli P, Olivieri L, Bettanini C. Avalanche rescue with autonomous drones. In: Proceedings of IEEE 7th International Workshop on Metrology for AeroSpace (MetroAeroSpace), 22–24 June 2020, Pisa, Italy; 2020 pp. 319–324. https://doi.org/ 10.1109/MetroAeroSpace48742.2020.9160116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MetroAeroSpace48742.2020.9160116   Google Scholar

Toson F, De Giudici F, Piva A, Artusi P, Chilò C, Banzi D, Toccane A, Danieli P, Olivieri L, Bettanini C. AVERLA: autonomous drone for avalanche rescue. In: AIDAA XXVI International Coference; 2021.   Google Scholar

IVAQ. IVAQ Finder [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 10]. Available from: https://ivaq.es/.   Google Scholar

ATLAS UAS. Avalanche PRO [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 10]. Available from: https://www.atlasuas.com/products/avalanchepro.   Google Scholar

De Giudici F, Toson F, Piva A, Artusi P, Olivieri L, Bettanini C. Design and testing of an autonomous ARTVA detector for small drones. In: Proceedings of IEEE 8th International Workshop on Metrology for AeroSpace (MetroAeroSpace), 23–25 June, 2021, Naples, Italy; 2021. pp. 104–108. http://doi.org/10.1109/MetroAeroSpace51421.2021.9511664. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MetroAeroSpace51421.2021.9511664   Google Scholar

Janovec M, Kandera B, Šajbanová K. Using unmanned aerial vehicles during the search of people buried in an avalanche. Transportation Research Procedia. 2022;65(2):350–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2022.11.039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2022.11.039   Google Scholar

Stasik J, Szandała T. An autonomous drone for avalanche search and rescue: Integrating ArduPilot and Tracking-Beacon Detection. IEEE Access. 2025;13:130758–130769. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3585245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3585245   Google Scholar

DJI. Manifold 3 — Ignite the Future of Computing — DJI Enterprise [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 25]. Available from: https://enterprise.dji.com/manifold-3.   Google Scholar

Flaticon. Vector Icons and Stickers — PNG, SVG, EPS, PSD and CSS [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 25]. Available from: https://www.flaticon.com/.   Google Scholar

Turning everyday cell phones into search-and-rescue beacons: Saving lives while getting ready for 6G [Internet]. MathWorks: MathWorks News and Stories. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 25]. Available from: https://www.mathworks.com/company/mathworks-stories/signal-processing-turns-cell-phones-into-search-and-rescue-beacons.html.   Google Scholar

Bejiga MB, Zeggada A, Nouffidj A, Melgani F. A convolutional neural network approach for assisting avalanche search and rescue operations with UAV imagery. Remote Sensing. 2017;9(2):100. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9020100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9020100   Google Scholar

Lim J, Hafner ED, Achermann F, Girod R, Rohr D, Lawrance NRJ, Bühler Y, Siegwart R. Autonomous and efficient large-scale snow avalanche monitoring with an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). Preprint — EGUsphere. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2728. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2728   Google Scholar

Rysunek 3. Uproszczony schemat autorskiego układu pomiarowego montowanego na BSP

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Pieprzycki, A., & Srebro, B. (2025). The concept of an innovative rescue system for detecting people buried in snow using UAVs (drones). Science, Technology and Innovation, 22(3), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.55225/sti.679

Issue

Section

Original articles