Effectors of Visual Search Efficacy on the Allegheny Plateau Kenneth B. Chiacchia, PhD, Heather E. Houlahan, AB  Wilderness & Environmental Medicine  Volume 21, Issue 3, Pages 188-201 (September 2010) DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002 Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Comparison of individual effective-sweep-width (ESW) values by search-object type, either orange-and-white high-visibility adult mannequins (high vis) or olive-green low-visibility mannequins (low vis), for the summer and winter experiments. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Effects of vegetation thickness on effective-sweep-width (ESW) in the winter experiment, for each search object type. High vis, high visibility adult mannequin; low vis, low-visibility adult mannequin; heavy veg, heavy vegetation; open veg, open vegetation. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 3 Cloud-cover effects on effective-sweep-width (ESW) for the two days of the winter experiment for each search object. Day 1 was cloudy and cold (cloudy); day two was sunny and warmer (sunny). High vis, high visibility adult mannequin; low vis, low-visibility adult mannequin. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 4 Each searcher's individual effective-sweep-width (ESW) value for the high-visibility adult search object plotted vs the value for the low-visibility (high- and low-vis, respectively) object, for each season. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 5 Each searcher's effective-sweep-width (ESW) value in heavy vegetation (heavy veg) vs the value in open vegetation (open veg) in the winter experiment, for each of the two search objects (high vis, high visibility adult mannequin; low vis, low-visibility adult mannequin). Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 6 Effect of previous search and rescue (SAR) training or its lack on individual effective-sweep-width (ESW) values for each object and season. Cert, SAR-certified searchers; no cert, uncertified searchers; summ, summer; wint, winter; high, high visibility adult mannequin; low, low-visibility adult mannequin. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 7 Individual effective-sweep-width (ESW) values vs search and rescue (SAR) experience as measured by number of searches deployed in the field. Summ, summer; wint, winter; high, high visibility adult mannequin; low, low-visibility adult mannequin. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 8 Effect of searcher sex on effective-sweep-width (ESW) values for each object and season. Summ, summer; wint, winter; high vis, high visibility adult mannequin; low vis, low-visibility adult mannequin. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 9 Individual effective-sweep-width (ESW) values vs time taken to complete the course for each season. Summ, summer; wint, winter; high, high visibility adult mannequin; low, low-visibility adult mannequin. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 10 Individual effective-sweep-width (ESW) values vs searcher age in years. Summ, summer; wint, winter; high, high visibility adult mannequin; low, low-visibility adult mannequin. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 11 Effect of teen vs adult status on effective-sweep-width (ESW) values for each object and season. Summ, summer; wint, winter; high vis, high visibility adult mannequin; low vis, low-visibility adult mannequin. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions

Figure 12 Effect of teen status on time taken to complete the course. Horizontal lines show the median value for each group of data points. Summ, summer; wint, winter. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 2010 21, 188-201DOI: (10.1016/j.wem.2010.06.002) Copyright © 2010 Wilderness Medical Society Terms and Conditions