August 7, 2012
SES volunteers from across the South Burnett gathered in Nanango last night for a combined training exercise to improve their skills in the use of GPS equipment.
Volunteers from Kumbia, Kingaroy, Nanango, Blackbutt and Yarraman learned how the GPS system works and how useful it can be during SES land searches.
“The units come into their own during land searches for missing people or forensic searches for particular items associated with a crime,” SES spokesman Peter Verbakel said.
“They allow search teams to accurately plot their search patterns as well as plot the locations of items found.
“When downloaded onto maps, these locations can assist searchers refining their search patterns. In some instances, movement patterns are identified which can often improve the chances of missing people being located.”
Subsequent training sessions will focus on downloading and interpreting the GPS data in search environments.
