Presenting our Research
Introduction
This semester we have the opportunity to present our research either with a white paper or with a peer-reviewed publication. Last semester my group began research and data collection with search and rescue (SAR) missions using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This semester, we plan on continuing research in the field, and compiling all our data into either a white paper or an article for peer-review.To start, I would like to talk about what a white paper is, what the difference between a white paper and a peer-reviewed publication is, and some pros and cons. I will also be analyzing some published white papers, as well as laying out the next steps for our project this semester.
What is a white paper?
A white paper is simply an informational document, usually authoritative and informative, that explains the results and conclusions of either a design effort or research project.[1][2] Peer-reviewed publications differ from a white paper in that the scientific community reviews the publication to add to or verify the data before it is ultimately published. Both documents are informational in nature, although white papers can often be released quicker as they skip the time-consuming processed of being reviewed.[3]One of the pros of a white paper over a peer-reviewed publication is mentioned above: that white papers are quicker to publish since they do not need reviewed. A downside to this, however, is that the information could technically not be as accurate, thorough, or as accepted as it would be with peer-reviewed literature.[3] Another benefit of white papers is that they are often cheaper to publish. Research papers are often more expensive, depending on which journal it can be published in.[4] One last drawback to white papers is that it can be more difficult to get your white paper out to your audience. Peer-reviewed publications have the advantage of reputable journals to spread, whereas white papers are more up to you.[5]
White Paper Critiques
UAV's for Law Enforcement, First Response & Search and Rescue (SAR). Commercial UAV Expo, 2016. https://expouav-static.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/04/free-report-uavs-for-search-and-rescue.pdf.
This white paper is geared especially towards the informative side of drones in search and rescue and first response operations. It explains advantages to using UAS platforms for search and rescue operations, and mentions how one vehicle can cover a square mile in the same amount of time it would take 100 foot searchers to do the same. It also goes into attitudes, changing procedures, and approval processes for these sorts of operations. This white paper is definitely not research based. It is more informative based, and uses interviews from labelled experts as the basis for a lot of its informative components.
Understanding Search & Rescue: The Ecosystem Behind Saving Lives. McMurdo, 2015, www.oroliamaritime.com/mg-content-library/white-paper-understanding-search-rescue/.
This paper focuses more on the satellite based search and rescue system, especially as it relates to locator beacons. This paper also breaks down what search and rescue is, as well as the process of search and rescue. It is informative in nature giving the public an understanding of how the satellite-based emergency locator beacon system works from a component and operations standpoint. While this is a really good example of a white paper, it does not have a research background as you might see with peer-reviewed literature or as our projects might entail.
Supporting Search and Rescue Operations with UAVs. University of Oxford Computing Laboratory, 2010. https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/files/3198/submission_waharte.pdf.
I think this white paper that I found does the best job of being informative and then unloading their data from their research. While their white paper is not as visually pleasing and lacks the color and style of other white papers, it makes up for it in detailed content. This paper talks about UAS platforms in SAR as a whole, and then goes into challenges associated, such as sensor data quality, platform limitations, and other operational hazards. Then the paper delves into their process of searching and the algorithms and methods used. To the every day person who is reading about search and rescue with UAS platforms, this paper is likely overwhelming; however, it does a good job of laying out their data and processes in an organized manner.
This white paper is geared especially towards the informative side of drones in search and rescue and first response operations. It explains advantages to using UAS platforms for search and rescue operations, and mentions how one vehicle can cover a square mile in the same amount of time it would take 100 foot searchers to do the same. It also goes into attitudes, changing procedures, and approval processes for these sorts of operations. This white paper is definitely not research based. It is more informative based, and uses interviews from labelled experts as the basis for a lot of its informative components.
Understanding Search & Rescue: The Ecosystem Behind Saving Lives. McMurdo, 2015, www.oroliamaritime.com/mg-content-library/white-paper-understanding-search-rescue/.
This paper focuses more on the satellite based search and rescue system, especially as it relates to locator beacons. This paper also breaks down what search and rescue is, as well as the process of search and rescue. It is informative in nature giving the public an understanding of how the satellite-based emergency locator beacon system works from a component and operations standpoint. While this is a really good example of a white paper, it does not have a research background as you might see with peer-reviewed literature or as our projects might entail.
Supporting Search and Rescue Operations with UAVs. University of Oxford Computing Laboratory, 2010. https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/files/3198/submission_waharte.pdf.
I think this white paper that I found does the best job of being informative and then unloading their data from their research. While their white paper is not as visually pleasing and lacks the color and style of other white papers, it makes up for it in detailed content. This paper talks about UAS platforms in SAR as a whole, and then goes into challenges associated, such as sensor data quality, platform limitations, and other operational hazards. Then the paper delves into their process of searching and the algorithms and methods used. To the every day person who is reading about search and rescue with UAS platforms, this paper is likely overwhelming; however, it does a good job of laying out their data and processes in an organized manner.
Conclusion
With the subject of our research being search and rescue aided with UASs, it would make sense to write a paper for peer-review. Our research has a lot of numbers and data, and we hope to have processes for SAR with UASs by the end of the semester. With that in mind, SAR operations and procedures using UAS platforms are important for the industry, and even though it would take longer for final publication, I think it would be more recognized and reputable as a publication in a journal.
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