How have technological advancements improved IIPs efficiency?
Generally, there are two areas where technological improvements can be made. These are iceberg reconnaissance and iceberg modeling: • There have been two significant changes in iceberg reconnaisance methods over the 83 years of the Ice Patrol’s history. First, in 1946 IIP began using aerial reconnaissance to augment then eventually replace surface patrols with U.S. Coast Guard Cutters. The last surface patrol utilizing a cutter was in 1973. Second, in 1983, Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) became an integral part of Ice Patrol’s iceberg reconnaissance operations. One would reasonably assume SLAR detection methods would greatly enhance iceberg location credibility. This has not been statistically supported. On the other hand, technological detection improvements have made IIP more cost efficient due to changes in operational resources (aircraft versus Cutters) and fewer staff hours. In the future, IIP will be using digital imagery vice film from SLAR and from satellite (RADARSAT) for
