Trained Dogs and AI Technology for Enhanced Safety and Rescue Operations for Goa’s Beaches

Goa’s beaches are set to receive a new team of highly-trained dogs to assist in spotting and rescuing individuals in distress and locating missing children, according to a statement from an official of Drishti Marine, the agency responsible for lifesaving operations in the coastal state.

The “paw squad” consists of 11 dogs and is the first initiative of its kind in Asia. The team is currently being trained by Arjun Shawn Moitra, a canine expert, and will be deployed first at high-density beaches.

The spokesperson for Drishti Marine stated that the trained dogs are being prepared to perform search and rescue operations in rocky terrains and locate missing children on the beaches.

The state’s tourism minister, Rohan Khaunte, praised the initiative and stressed the need for regular deployment of new technologies and innovations for such lifesaving operations.

Additionally, Drishti Marine is finalizing two Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, Aurus and Triton, to assist beach lifesavers.

The spokesperson said that Aurus is a self-driving robot, while Triton is an AI-powered monitoring system that can assess risks, monitor surroundings, and share real-time information to help lifesavers respond more efficiently.

Aurus is presently deployed as a pilot project at Miramar Beach in North Goa to assist in beach closure. Triton is still in testing mode and has already been deployed at beaches, including Baina, Velsao, Benaulim, and Galgibag in South Goa and Morjim in North Goa.

According to Navin Awasthi, the Operations Manager of Drishti Marine, they plan to deploy 100 Triton units and 10 Aurus units on the state’s beaches in the coming months.