Students Help in Search for Missing Malaysian Jet

Geography students at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) were given a part to play when they joined volunteers across the globe in the recent search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.

Geospatial scientist Dr Tuong-Thuy Vu, whose area of research includes disaster responses and crowd-sourcing, was called upon by the international organisation DigitalGlobe to help locate the Boeing 777 using their Earth Observation satellite images and he asked for volunteers amongst the students to help analyse images and data.

Speaking during the operation Dr Vu said: “Earth Observation satellite platforms play an important role in every aspect of our life. They capture frequent and up to date images everywhere on Earth with the very latest synoptic views — up to 0.5 m resolution — of the Earth surface. In the area of emergency and post-disaster responses it is sometimes the sole data source when accessibility on the ground becomes impossible. As the search for flight MH370 enters its fifth day with ships, aircraft and helicopters, Earth observation satellite platforms have been deployed as another option.”

Dr Tuong-Thuy Vu’s Open-Source Geospatial Development research lab in the School of Geography at UNMC has also contributed to DigitalGlobe’s initiative in response to the Philippines Haiyan typhoon.