Celebrating Success: Professor Steve Hughes

Congratulations to Steve Hughes, whose team have successfully appointed a EPSRC DTP PhD studentship to their research project ‘Studying drones in Mountain Rescue using virtual field trials’. The supervision team is Ken Pierce (Lead Supervisor, Computing), Steve Hughes (NUBS) and Roberto Palacin (Engineering). A lead external member of the research team is David Perkins, from The Centre for Search Research, based in Ashington. Both Dave Perkins and Steve Hughes are former members of Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.

The research uses modelling and analysis techniques to develop novel models of drone searching to enhance existing search theory and develop practical guidelines for Mountain Rescue Teams. The current project grew out of multi-agency research conducted by The Centre for Search Research and Newcastle University Business School that demonstrated both the promise and limitations of drone deployment in search and rescue situations.

The post has been recruited through and will be attached to the School of Computing.