FindMeSAR Application

FindMeSAR is a 'no cost' public service browser app from MappingSupport.com. It is intended for use on smartphones and tablets. Yes, it will run in the browser on a desktop or laptop computer but the location results are unpredictable.There is also a related web page with more documentation. Many questions will be answered by the information on that page.FindMeSAR can help emergency responders find you. SAR means Search And Rescue. The goal of FindMeSAR is to help make for less search and more rescue.When you call for help with your cell phone, the person at the other end of the call needs to know your location. The FindMeSAR browser app will display:1. Your coordinates2. An accuracy value3. Elevation if you are in the USA and online4. A timestampFindMeSAR gets your location from your browser. All mainstream browsers offer an interface that can obtain coordinates from the phone's GPS chip. Most GPS chips in cell phones use assisted GPS (A-GPS) in order to speed up the time to first fix. The user's phone might also use data from cell towers, wi-fi hotspots, bluetooth and other location aware technologies in determining the user's coordinates.Different emergency responders use different coordinate formats. FindMeSAR uses color-coded screens so you can provide your coordinates in the format used by first responders in your area.Blue = U.S. National Grid (USNG). Same as MGRS.Green = UTMYellow = Decimal degreesRed = Degrees and decimal minutesThe accuracy value is just as important as the coordinates! If FindMeSAR has been running for at least one minute and the accuracy value is not 30 meters or less then something is wrong. Here are some things to try:1. If you have an Android phone, open your settings and go to the screen where you turn location services on/off. Make sure the location method (or mode) is set to GPS Only (or Device Only).2. If you are inside a building try to go outside or next to a window so your phone can get better data from the GPS satellites.3. If you are in a vehicle try to put your phone under the windshield so your phone can get better data from the GPS satellites.4. If you hold your phone so your hand covers the GPS antenna then your phone will not get any data from the GPS satellites. Hold your phone in portrait orientation with nothing blocking the upper half of the phone.5. Remember, if you are using a desktop or laptop computer then results are unpredictable. FindMeSAR is intended for cell phones and tablets.If you are in the USA and your device is online then a few seconds after you tap Stop, your elevation will be displayed.

Data and Resources

Field Value
guid 468bbf01a01143d89c9257c5e23d6854
metadata_source arcgis
metadata_type geospatial
Groups
  • AmeriGEOSS
  • National Provider
  • North America
Tags
  • amerigeo
  • amerigeoss
  • ckan
  • geo
  • geoss
  • hifld4harvey
  • hurricane-harvey
  • mobile-app
  • national
  • north-america
  • sar
  • united-states
  • usng
isopen False
metadata_created 2025-11-22T16:21:11.810047
metadata_modified 2025-11-22T16:21:11.810051
notes FindMeSAR is a 'no cost' public service browser app from MappingSupport.com. It is intended for use on smartphones and tablets. Yes, it will run in the browser on a desktop or laptop computer but the location results are unpredictable.There is also a related web page with more documentation. Many questions will be answered by the information on that page.FindMeSAR can help emergency responders find you. SAR means Search And Rescue. The goal of FindMeSAR is to help make for less search and more rescue.When you call for help with your cell phone, the person at the other end of the call needs to know your location. The FindMeSAR browser app will display:1. Your coordinates2. An accuracy value3. Elevation if you are in the USA and online4. A timestampFindMeSAR gets your location from your browser. All mainstream browsers offer an interface that can obtain coordinates from the phone's GPS chip. Most GPS chips in cell phones use assisted GPS (A-GPS) in order to speed up the time to first fix. The user's phone might also use data from cell towers, wi-fi hotspots, bluetooth and other location aware technologies in determining the user's coordinates.Different emergency responders use different coordinate formats. FindMeSAR uses color-coded screens so you can provide your coordinates in the format used by first responders in your area.Blue = U.S. National Grid (USNG). Same as MGRS.Green = UTMYellow = Decimal degreesRed = Degrees and decimal minutesThe accuracy value is just as important as the coordinates! If FindMeSAR has been running for at least one minute and the accuracy value is not 30 meters or less then something is wrong. Here are some things to try:1. If you have an Android phone, open your settings and go to the screen where you turn location services on/off. Make sure the location method (or mode) is set to GPS Only (or Device Only).2. If you are inside a building try to go outside or next to a window so your phone can get better data from the GPS satellites.3. If you are in a vehicle try to put your phone under the windshield so your phone can get better data from the GPS satellites.4. If you hold your phone so your hand covers the GPS antenna then your phone will not get any data from the GPS satellites. Hold your phone in portrait orientation with nothing blocking the upper half of the phone.5. Remember, if you are using a desktop or laptop computer then results are unpredictable. FindMeSAR is intended for cell phones and tablets.If you are in the USA and your device is online then a few seconds after you tap Stop, your elevation will be displayed.
num_resources 1
num_tags 13
title FindMeSAR Application