A graphical model to determine the influence of surface currents on small objects immersed in water

This paper proposes a model of the interactions between surface currents and small, moving objects. These objects are immersed in water so that the part extending above the water is no larger than a human head. These interactions are defined as the weighted-directed graph. The basis for determining the edge weights are the directions of the surface currents. The speeds of these currents are used to calculate the time of moving objects. According to the modelling method of the surface-current influence on small objects, presented in this paper, it is possible to implement an application supporting search-and-rescue-operation planning. This method can be used to locate small objects, such as survivors, when planning search-and-rescue operations. Thus, the routes of these objects moving together with surface-water masses can be predicted using this method.