Miami building collapse: How are drones, sonar and other technology aiding Florida rescuers' search?

Many people are still missing and at least 4 have been found dead from the tragic 12-story oceanside condo that collapsed near Miami, Florida. USA TODAY

Search teams have been using drones, sonar, highly sensitive microphones and a range of other new and established technologies to help search for people in the oceanside condominium building near Miami that collapsed into a smoldering pile of rubble.

Will any of it help?

About 160 people were still unaccounted for Friday amid fears that the death toll of at least four could go much higher.

A wing of the residential building in Surfside, Florida, came down with a roar around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. On video footage captured from nearby, the center of the building appeared to fall first, with a section nearest the ocean teetering and coming down seconds later as a huge dust cloud swallowed the neighborhood.

What technologies have proven useful in such collapses?

The most common, time-tested technologies used to try to locate survivors in rubble are acoustic detection and sniffer dogs.

Aerial drones equipped with cameras and other sensors can be useful to get a close look at the collapse, especially in the earliest stages of a search to help rescuers know where it's safe to enter. Data from smartphones and telecommunications carriers can show if a missing person was in the area.

Joana Gaia, a professor of management science and systems at the University of Buffalo, said it's common for search teams to use radar and microwave signals that bounce off objects and can identify people and objects. She said it's similar to the technology in cars that beeps when you're close to hitting something.

That can be more useful than cellphone data, which isn't as exact, especially when speed is of the essence. In a disaster situation, data is useful only if it can be interpreted quickly.

"Responders are operating on a speed rather than accuracy standpoint," she said. "They think: 'If I think a body is there, I don't care how accurate the signal is. I'm just going to try to go save the person.'"

What are Miami rescuers using now?

Search and rescue teams worked through the night hoping to detect any sounds coming from survivors.

The crews, which include some 130 firefighters working in teams, are approaching the pile from above and below as they search for any signs of life in what had been a wing of the Champlain Towers South.

They've said they are using sonar, cameras and sensitive microphones. Neighboring communities have shared their drones, and at least one company is shipping a ground robot from California to help with the search as crews work through a tunnel underneath the building.

"Once you get into that subterranean realm, ground robotics become incredibly useful," said David Proulx, a vice president of unmanned systems at Teledyne FLIR, a defense contractor that specializes in thermal sensing. "It can safely go where humans can't."

Do rescuers still use dogs to sniff out survivors?

Search and rescue operations use two types of dogs on disaster scenes, both trained to detect human scent, said Mark Neveau, a former FEMA presidential appointee and disaster expert. First, there are dogs trained to pick up the scent of live bodies, but as the operation shifts to a recovery operation, cadaver-sniffing dogs take the field.

Chemical tracing devices are being developed that also pick up on scents humans can't detect, but these haven't replaced dogs yet. These are portable labs that can analyze chemical traces and gas. They use sensors to detect moisture, carbon dioxide, or any chemicals emitted through breathing, like acetone or ammonia, said the University of Buffalo's Gaia.

"It's almost like a mechanical sniffing dog that can be trained to smell things we can't," she said.FacebookTwitter Google+LinkedIn12-story building partially collapses in Surfside, Florida near Miami Fullscreen

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A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Rescue workers work in the rubble at the Champlain Towers South Condo is seen, Friday, June 25, 2021, in Surfside. Gerald Herbert, APFullscreenA view of the 12-story building that partially collapsed Thursday morning seen from the beach in Surfside, Florida. Sam Navarro, USA TODAY NETWORKFullscreenA view of the 12-story building that partially collapsed Thursday morning seen from the beach in Surfside, Florida. Sam Navarro, USA TODAY NETWORKFullscreenDamaged cars are seen near the partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, Florida on June 25, 2021. Gianrigo Marletta, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenMiami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel search the rubble of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 25, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. Greg Lovett, The Palm Beach PostFullscreenMariana Cordeiro, left, and Maria Fernandez Martinez stand on the beach after praying outside Champlain Towers South condo building on June 25, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. Greg Lovett, The Palm Beach PostFullscreenAriana Hevia, of New Orelans, La., center, walks with Sean Wilt, left, near the 12-story beachfront condo building which partially collapsed, Friday, June 25, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami. Hevia' s mother Cassandra Statton lives in the building. Search and rescue teams continue to work at the site hoping to detect any sounds coming from survivors. Lynne Sladky, APFullscreenPeople hug outside the Surfside Community Center as they wait for news on June 25, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. The 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building partially collapsed on Thursday in Surfside, Florida. Greg Lovett, The Palm Beach PostFullscreenA man prays near where search and rescue operations continue at the site of the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 25, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. The man, overcome with emotion, said he had lost a relative in the collapse. Over one hundred people are reported as missing as the search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenRescue workers survey a wing of a partially collapsed 12-story beachfront condo building, June 25, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Greg Lovett, The Palm Beach Post via USA TODAY NETWORKFullscreenMiami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel continue search and rescue operations in the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 25, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenFaydah Bushnaq, of Sterling, Va., center, is hugged by Maria Fernanda Martinez, of Boca Raton, Fla., as they stand outside of a 12-story beachfront condo building which partially collapsed, Friday, June 25, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami. Bushnaq is vacationing and stopped to write "Pray for their Souls" in the sand. Lynne Sladky, APFullscreenMiami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel spray water on a fire in the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building as search and rescue operations continue on June 25, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. 99 people are being reported as missing as search-and-rescue efforts continue with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenA Miami-Dade Fire Rescue person and a K-9 continue the search and rescue operations in the partially collapsed 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Florida. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as the search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenA woman cries while waiting for news of survivors from a condominium that partially collapsed, Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers continue to look for more. Marta Lavandier, APFullscreenRescue workers walk among the rubble where part of a 12-story beachfront condo building collapsed, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Marta Lavandier, APFullscreenA couple embrace as they wait for news of survivors from a condominium that collapsed, Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Dozens of survivors were pulled out, and rescuers continue to look for more. Marta Lavandier, APFullscreenPeople talk on the phone at the reunification center in the town of Surfside's community center while waiting to hear and update after a building collapsed early in the morning on June 24, 2021. Sam Navarro, USA TODAY NETWORKFullscreenFirefighters pass debris from the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Florida Thursday, June 24, 2021. The building partially collapsed at 1:30 a.m. Thursday. Lannis Waters, The Palm Beach PostFullscreenYube Pettingill reacts while talking to the media as two of her family members are still missing after a building collapsed early in the morning in the town of Surfside, Fla. on June 24, 2021. Sam Navarro, USA TODAY NETWORKFullscreenLuis Marina Pena reacts while talking to media as she waits for news on family members missing at the town's community center after a building collapsed in Surfside, Fla. on June 24, 2021. Sam Navarro, USA TODAY NETWORKFullscreenThis photo taken from video provided by ReliableNewsMedia, firefighters rescue a survivor from the rubble of the Champlain Towers South Condo after the multistory building partially collapsed in Surfside, Fla., early Thursday, June 24, 2021. ReliableNewsMedia via APFullscreenThe partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Florida Thursday, June 24, 2021. Lannis Waters, The Palm Beach PostFullscreenPolice cars are parked in front of debris from a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. - A high-rise oceanfront apartment block near Miami Beach partially collapsed early Thursday, killing at least one person and leaving 99 unaccounted for, with fears the toll may rise much higher as rescuers combed through the rubble. Eva Marie Uzcategui, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenFire rescue personnel conduct search and rescue in the rubble from Champlain Towers South Condo after the multistory building partially collapsed Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. David Santiago, Miami Herald via APFullscreenSearch and rescue personnel work in the rubble of a 12-story residential tower that partially collapsed on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenPeople console each other near the site of a partially collapsed building, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenFire rescue personnel conduct a search and rescue with dogs through the rubble of the Champlain Towers South Condo after the multistory building partially collapsed in Surfside, Fla., Thursday, June 24, 2021. David Santiago, Miami Herald via APFullscreenSearch and rescue personnel work in the rubble of the 12-story condo tower that crumbled to the ground during a partially collapse of the building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenA portion of the 12-story condo tower crumbled to the ground June 24 in Surfside, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenSearch and rescue personnel work in the rubble of the 12-story condo tower that crumbled to the ground after a partial collapse of the building on June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenHousehold items and debris dangle from a partially collapsed multistory beachfront condo, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenPolice stand guard near a partially collapsed building a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. The multi-story apartment block in Florida partially collapsed early June 24, sparking a major emergency response. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett told NBCs Today show: My police chief has told me that we transported two people to the hospital this morning at least and one has died. We treated ten people on the site. CHANDAN KHANNA, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenRubble hangs from a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. The multi-story apartment block in Florida partially collapsed early June 24, sparking a major emergency response. CHANDAN KHANNA, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenA huge mound of rubble spills onto the street after the partial collapse of a 12-story condominium building early Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. The area around the condo is cordoned off, with about 100 law enforcement officers gathered. Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA TODAYFullscreenThis aerial photo shows part of the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that collapsed early Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Amy Beth Bennett, South Florida Sun-Sentinel via APFullscreenItems and debris dangle from a section of the oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that partially collapsed Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Susan Stocker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel via APFullscreenPeople look at the damage at the 12-story oceanfront Champlain Towers South Condo that collapsed early Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Surfside, Fla. Susan Stocker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel via APFullscreenRubble hangs from a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. CHANDAN KHANNA, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenRubble hangs from a partially collapsed building in Surfside north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. CHANDAN KHANNA, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenFire Rescue workers rescue a resident at a partially collapsed building in Surfside, Fla., on June 24, 2021.A multi-story apartment block in Florida partially collapsed during early June 24, sparking a major emergency response. Online videos showed a large portion of the 12-story building in the town of Surfside -- just north of Miami Beach -- reduced to rubble, with the apartments' interiors exposed. CHANDAN KHANNA, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenFirst responders arrive at a partially collapsed building in Surfside, Fla., on June 24, 2021. CHANDAN KHANNA, AFP via Getty ImagesFullscreenA portion of the 12-story condo tower crumbled to the ground during a partial collapse of the building on June 24, 2021 in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. It is unknown at this time how many people were injured as search-and-rescue effort continues with rescue crews from across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenA section of a partially collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. A partial building collapse in Miami caused a massive response early Thursday from Miami Dade Fire Rescue, according to a tweet from the department's account. Miami Dade Fire Rescue is conducting search and rescue. Authorities had no word yet on casualties, or details of how many people lived in the building. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenFirefighters standby after a partial collapse of a building, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenFirefighters search a partially collapsed building early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenA firefighter shines a flashlight at far left as they search a building after a partial collapse, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenPeople view a partially collapsed building early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenA partially collapsed building, center, is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreenRescue personnel work near where a portion of the 12-story condo tower crumbled to the ground during a partial collapse of the building on June 24, 2021 in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenA portion of the 12-story condo tower crumbled to the ground following a partial collapse of the building on June 24, 2021 in the Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Joe Raedle, Getty ImagesFullscreenA partial collapsed building is seen early Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Surfside area of Miami, Fla. Wilfredo Lee, APFullscreen

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What other technologies could prove useful in the future?

Drones and ground robots are already used in search operations, but the most sophisticated machines are still expensive, hard to come by and rarely as fast as the skilled human rescuers controlling them. That could change as they become smarter, more nimble and a standard part of search and rescue operations.

"It will be part of the kit that first responders have," said Proulx, of Teledyne FLIR. "The operation of those drones and robots will be progressively more autonomous. They will be much more independent and operate as teammates rather than tools."

Another technology available to the responders – but not on the scene Friday – is a doppler radar device developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and the Department of Homeland Security that "sees" through concrete slabs, detecting the signatures of human respiration and heartbeats.

A prototype saved four lives after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, and it was used two years later in Mexico City. Its developers say it provides an edge over acoustics, the usual method for detecting people in rubble, because disaster sites tend to be noisy.

"Noise doesn't affect us, and we can see through smoke," said Adrian Garulay, CEO of SpecOps Group, a Sarasota, Florida, company that sells the technology under license. Although it can penetrate 8 inches of solid concrete, it cannot see through metal, he said. It uses a low-powered microwave signal about one-thousandth the strength of a cellphone signal and is evolved from NASA's efforts to develop low-cost, small spacecraft radios.

Contributing: Elinor Aspegren, Ryan W. Miller and Wendy Rhodes, USA TODAYRead or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/06/25/miami-condo-collapse-missing-victims-search-technology-drones/5349897001/