Mountain Map Search Management Software

9th June 2009 - The Ochil's MRT along with Lomond MRT help the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland launch their Mountain Map Search Management Software. Tom Lockie, member of Ochil's, has been working on the development group and was present when Mr Fergus Ewing, MSP, officially launched the software.

Link to Scottish Television News

In 2006 Ordnance Survey announced that they were providing digital mapping tiles to Mountain Rescue in the UK. The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland decided to set up a working group to see how best to deliver the maps to the teams under its auspices.

The Digital Mapping Group was formed with 4 members, James Coles (member of Moffat MRT and SARDA - an experienced Missing Person Search Manager), Angus Mackie (member of Dundonnel MRT and a GIS Manager with the Forestry Commission), Hamish Thomson (member of Tayside MRT and SARDA, GIS Manager with Angus Council), and myself Tom Lockie (Member of Ochil's MRT, experienced Missing Person Search Manager and knowledgeable in IT).

The remit of the group was to identify suitable software packages and report back to the MRCofS with their proposals. This quickly generated an interest in developing specific software which would allow the user the range of functions from printing maps to fully integrated GIS capability in generating shapes and polygons, symbols, lines and attributable information attached to the map. Following a tendering process Map Maker from Kintyre was selected to develop Mountain Map for Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Following the appointment of Map Maker to develop the software, the Group tested and piloted the software until it was ready for delivery late last year and into this year. Each team has been provided with a Laptop, with the software preinstalled, a printer and a hard bodied case, additional copies of the software is available if required. Further support was obtained from Kaspersky software, who provided 3 years support for their Internet Security Software.

The software now includes mapping tiles for 1:10k, 1:25k, 1:50k, 1:250k and we are in the process of obtaining aerial photographs of Scotland for use within the software.

Search Managers now have the function of recording their search strategy and can pre-plan potential search areas on the digital maps. The added function of printing of these maps and search areas allows for each search team to be provided accurate details of their search area. This is in contrast to traditional way in the past of drawing on paper maps and asking searchers to copy the information to their own maps, or if they were lucky and had access to a photocopier, producing black and white copies.

The "incident" can be exported from the software and transmitted via the internet and email to any user, including Police Control Rooms, ARCC at Kinross, and other Mountain Rescue Team.

The software also includes the facility to link in with GPS units and has also been developed to work with the GPS enabled mikes attached to the MRT radios.

Data has also been supplied by the Forestry Commission on their forest areas and forest tracks. This data is updated on a regular basis and distributed to all the teams.

Additional data includes al the main hills and mountain, eg Munros (a collective name given to all the distinct mountains in Scotland which are over 3,000 feet, and which have a re-ascent of 500 feet on all sides), Corbetts (a collective name given to all the distinct mountains in Scotland which are between 2,500 feet and 3,000 feet, and which have a re-ascent of 500 feet on all sides) and Donalds (a collective name given to all the distinct mountains in Lowland Scotland which are over 2,000 feet). Scottish Cave Rescue have also supplied a details list of all mines and caves they have recorded in their databases.

Scottish Mountain Rescue has never had access to fully functional mapping software and welcomes the development of Mountain Map which allows teams to collaborate and exchange search information through the software ensuring that a full and accurate record of search patterns and strategy is maintained.

Tom Lockie