The College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is a unique opportunity for college of engineering undergraduate students to engage in hands-on research with a faculty mentor while using critical thinking, collaborative, and entrepreneurial skills. SURP is an 8-week long program (can be non-contiguous), and students are expected to spend at least 20 hours/week working on their research projects and additional time preparing and presenting their poster for the annual SURP symposium; SURP students and their faculty mentor will agree upon a start date and timeline for their research project (with a suggested start date of June 26th, 2023). The goals of SURP are to: 

Project Title: AI for Search and Rescue (S&R) - Locating a Missing Person

Faculty Email: fkurfess@calpoly.edu, lslivovs@calpoly.edu

Description of Research Project: Building on the work done initially as a SURP 2021 project and continued through 2021-23, the focus for this summer project will be on the use of computer technology for locating a missing person. Over the last year, we developed the digital equivalents of about 30 paper-based S&R forms and the infrastructure to collect the respective information. In their current use, these paper forms are filled out by search teams, collected in a command post, and reviewed by search coordinators. This process is time-consuming, prone to errors and loss of information, and relies heavily on the experience, skills, and mental acuity of the search coordinators. At the core of this process is the Lost Person Questionnaire, a lengthy and complex form that collects relevant information about the subject of the S&R mission. For this SURP effort, we will explore the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to combine information about the ongoing search effort, past missions with similar profiles, and general knowledge such as terrain and travel routes to identify areas of high priority for the search.

In collaboration with two Cal Poly CSC alumni with a long involvement in S&R activities, we will

focus on the following aspects:

1. Lost Person Information: Relevant information from a variety of sources is

consolidated in a systematic manner.

2. Scenario Analysis: Based on information like the lost person's intent, their last known

location or their habits, the AI component develops multiple scenarios and ranks them

according to plausibility and priority. Search managers will then review and revise these

scenarios and make final decisions.

3. Search Plan: This plan for the operational activities of the current mission will include an

assessment of priorities and probabilities for multiple scenarios. The planning scenario

will be continually updated with information gathered from the ongoing S&R activities.

The scope of the work conducted within SURP may depend on the background and experience

of the students selected for the team. This project includes collaboration and coordination with

two related activities: Cal Poly’s Data Science Strategic Research Initiative, an ad-hoc effort of a

group of faculty and staff interested in data collection at Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch, and

a project on Drones for Marine Science and Agriculture sponsored by the Santa Rosa Creek

Foundation. It has the potential to involve students from a wide range of disciplines from all

colleges at Cal Poly. We are especially interested in working with students who already have

experience with Search and Rescue, or are engaged in related activities.

HOW TO APPLY: