Hong Kong police set to launch ‘HKSOS’ app to quickly pinpoint lost hikers during rescue missions
- Signal Radar technology can detect distress signals from ‘HKSOS’ app in complex terrain or areas without cellular network coverage
- Number of hiking-related search and rescue missions has surged in the past four years from fewer than 200 in 2019 to more than 1,000 in 2022
Senior Superintendent Swalikh Mohammed of the force’s digital policing services bureau said the new “HKSOS” app, which will be connected to the 999 emergency hotline command and control centre, would allow users to enter their hiking details and set off unique signals.
“Once a hiker hits the SOS button in the app or his emergency contact triggers a call for help to our officers through the app, we can promptly detect the hiker’s phone’s SOS signal over a long distance with our radars,” Mohammed said on Wednesday.
He was referring to Signal Radar, a patented search and rescue solution co-developed by the force and local company Altai Technologies, a firm based in the Science Park.
The development of the world’s first search and rescue solution was covered under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Science Park in September last year, Mohammed said.
Signal Radar’s technology can detect distress signals from the HKSOS app in complex terrain or areas without cellular network coverage.
