Latest news with #AquaEye
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Divers Using AI in Texas Flood Recovery
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Recovery teams are facing immense challenges following the deadly floods that ravaged Central Texas two weeks ago, with efforts being complicated by poor visibility, debris-filled rivers, and limited resources. At least one dive team is using a handheld, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sonar device, called AquaEye which has been called a "game changer" for search and recovery operations along the Guadalupe River, local news station KENS5 reported. Newsweek has reached out to AquaEye via email Saturday during non-working hours for more information on how many devices have been deployed to Texas following the deadly floods. Why It Matters Volunteers, along with local, state and federal rescue crews, are still searching for the over 100 people that are still missing from the floods that overflowed the Guadalupe River that killed at least 135 people. Earlier this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott extended the disaster declaration to include 26 counties impacted. What To Know Ongoing rain and flash flooding has further complicated efforts to recover people. "Teams have been working on foot from the headwaters of the Guadalupe River to Canyon Lake and back, focused on recovering loved ones and bringing their families closure," Kerr County wrote on Friday in an update on Facebook. At least four teams are using the AquaEye device to aid in these efforts. The device operates much like a radar gun, but for underwater analysis, according to KENS5. Divers submerge the device, pull the trigger, and high-frequency sound waves are emitted, Carlyn Loncaric, founder and CEO of AquaEye, told KENS5. The returning echoes are instantly analyzed by onboard AI to distinguish between debris, rocks, and soft tissue which would likely indicate a human body. Loncaric originally designed the device in 2020 to assist lifeguards and camps in locating drowning victims quickly. She then realized there were more applications it could be used for. "As soon as we started trying to sell it and talk to people, I realized that the need was much greater than I had ever believed," Loncaric told KENS5. "It sends out sound pulses just like any sonar device does. When the echoes return, it analyzes them and uses AI to try to figure out, 'Okay which objects have a high likelihood of being a human being?" Loncaric said that while the device is not infallible, search teams routinely report an 80-90 percent reduction in search times. Its simplicity means rescue teams can initiate scans within seconds, drastically improving response times compared to traditional methods involving boats and extensive crews. Search and rescue operations are performed in the Guadalupe River on July 14 in Kerrville, Texas. Search and rescue operations are performed in the Guadalupe River on July 14 in Kerrville, Texas. Photo byWhat People Are Saying Carlyn Loncaric, founder and CEO of AquaEye, told KENS5 about the device: "It will scan the area of a football field in a minute and pinpoint the location of a victim." Rescue volunteer Courtney Adair told KENS5: "You have about 6-inch visibility, which makes searching almost impossible. AquaEye kind of breaks down that barrier. It extends that search area, the radius to better detect soft tissue that we are looking to recover and investigate." What Happens Next? Recovery efforts are expected to last for months, with federal resources being deployed to assist in the impacted areas.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Recovery mission continues Thursday for man who jumped from Hudson Memorial Bridge
May 2—A man jumped off the Hudson Memorial Bridge on Wednesday evening, according to Decatur police, and the Morgan County Rescue Squad confirmed Thursday the search had become a recovery mission as they sought to find his body. Decatur police spokeswoman Irene Cardenas-Martinez said officers responded about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday after a report that an individual had jumped from the Hudson Memorial Bridge. Decatur police, the Morgan County Rescue Squad, and Decatur Fire & Rescue arrived shortly after the call came in. Rescue squads from surrounding counties also searched for much of the night, resumed their search at daybreak Thursday and as of Thursday evening had not found the body. On Thursday morning, the search from a staging area at Ingalls Harbor included the Athens-Limestone Rescue Squad, Childersburg Rescue Squad, Huntsville-Madison County Rescue Squad, Morgan County Emergency Management Agency and Christian Aid Ministry from Vanleer, Tennessee. Morgan County Rescue Squad Capt. Ben Davis remained on scene Thursday as four divers from the Huntsville-Madison County Rescue Squad prepared to search the cold backwaters of Wheeler Lake. Davis said the individual was an older white man wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. He said the man had driven a white Ford truck to the bridge alone before exiting the vehicle and a witness told him he jumped headfirst into the water, which is about 30 feet deep at that point. "We had a team go out earlier this morning with side-scan sonar and a device called AquaEye, which helps identify objects underwater," Davis said. "They've had several positive hits in the same area where he went in. We're going to do another sweep to confirm those hits." Davis said based on witness accounts and the nature of the jump, the search has now become a recovery mission, as it is assumed the man did not survive. He added that crews do not believe the body had drifted far from the point of entry, but cold-water temperatures are likely preventing it from surfacing. "Usually, when someone doesn't resurface, even with strong currents, they sink and stay in the same area until body gases begin forming and causes them to float," Davis said. "With colder water, that process slows down because the body doesn't swell as quickly." Davis said sonar equipment is helping speed up the search. "Sonar gives us a detailed map of the river bottom, and you can actually make out the outline if there is a body," he said. — or 256-340-2442.
The National
08-04-2025
- The National
UAE predicts massive increase in police and rescue drones by 2028
From using drones to help extinguish fires and searching for people trapped under rubble in disaster areas to sonar scanners that pinpoint bodies underwater, the UAE is embracing emerging technology in its crisis response efforts. The Emirates is stepping up its use of AI to help improve its response to emergencies, while the use of drones in the sector is also expected to increase significantly across the world, a senior figure from the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (Ncema) said. Dr Saif Al Dhaheri, director of the National Operations Centre at Ncema, was speaking at the World Crisis and Emergency Management Summit in Abu Dhabi, which began on Tuesday. 'Drone usage in disaster response is expected to increase twenty-fold by 2028, while 70 per cent of emergency decisions will be AI-supported by 2030,' he said, referring to the use of technology in global search and rescue efforts. Delegates from 30 countries were taking part in the summit, which brings together decision-makers and experts on search and rescue efforts on how best to respond to emergencies. 'The summit is an international hub to shape the future and strengthen international co-operation,' said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, in a speech on Tuesday. 'The discussions in the summit will inspire new ideas for helping our emergency systems to support safety and stability in our societies. 'This summit is a testament to a scientific vision for a United Arab Emirates that is committed to saving lives and preserving communities, not only in this country but also in the region and the world.' This year's summit, held at Adnec, focuses on global resilience, strategic foresight and enhancing partnerships among governments, international organisations and the private sector. Technology used by emergency response teams in the UAE was showcased on the opening day. Dubai Civil Defence exhibited its latest drone, Shaheen, an AI-powered, aerial firefighting system designed to handle blazes in high-rise buildings. Brig Suleiman Al Bloushi, director of the technical affairs department, told The National the drone has already been used this year to put out fires. 'The drone soars to a height of 200 metres, equivalent to 35 floors, in a few seconds,' Brig Al Bloushi said. 'It helps to extinguish fires in balconies and cladding. It is able to spray a mix of water and foam up to 25 metres from its 1,000-litre tank." The Ministry of Civil Defence presented the AquaEye sonar device that can search for bodies underwater. The hand-held gadget uses AI to search depths further than were previously possible. 'The device can identify if there is a dead body under the water,' a representative from the ministry told The National. "It can scan one acre in less than two minutes." Dubai Police showcased technology that played a vital role in helping find survivors in the earthquake that shook Syria and Turkey in February 2023. One of the devices on display works by being placed on rubble and making thermal scans to detect signs of life. Another device, called the Life Detector, can also be placed on rubble to detect any noise made by somebody trapped under the debris of a collapsed building. The UAE has helped with a number of high-profile search and rescue operations overseas. On Sunday, The National reported how a team from the Emirates had been praised for its efforts in helping with the response to the earthquake in Myanmar late last month. The Myanmar government on Sunday honoured the UAE search and rescue team in a ceremony hosted by Dr Soe Win, the country's Minister of Social Welfare. The emergency team was directed to provide support by President Sheikh Mohamed.
