The Swedish Maritime Administration, together with the Swedish companies Tenfifty and Maranics, has conducted a research and innovation project that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with emergency call detection.
Tobias Nicander, rescue leader at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, came up with the idea in 2009. Calls can sometimes be difficult to interpret as signals are weak and messages are incoherent. In addition, there is always the risk that the operator is already working on an alarm when a new case arises. There is thus a small risk of missing a call, but by transcribing all calls, the risk is reduced. A decade ago when Tobias first thought about using AI to improve search and rescue (SAR) operations, the technology did not exist. 10 Years on, the technology is available and is now being used to improve emergency call response.
“Not only do we get the calls texted, we have also defined keywords that should be clearly marked and should remain on our screens until we say that we have seen them. We also receive documentation of what has been said on the channel, which can be helpful in improving the process in the future. It serves, for example, as a perfect base for education,” said Tobias Nicander.
Already on the first day, the system drew the operators’ attention to two “Mayday” calls: one in Germany and one in Denmark. This shows that the AI solution can interpret even weak signals and that the operators can get the help they want, to be able to make better assessments in the future. In addition, it shows that the reach of the Swedish coastal radio network is good enough.
The solution is not designed to replace the operators but with the goal of relieving and supporting them in their daily work.
The project, which has run for the last two years, will continue until the autumn when an evaluation will be made.
