Software engineer Bart Kindt, pictured at his Ettrick home, has spent 12 years developing software for search and rescue teams. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

Tucked away in the tiny Otago town of Ettrick, Bart Kindt has spent the past 12 years working away on life-saving software that is used by search and rescue teams around the world.

Mobile app SARTrack allows teams to manage searches more efficiently and safely, and a Dunedin search and rescue veteran has described it as "invaluable".

The app came in handy once again last Sunday, when two people set off beacons and had to be rescued from the Huxley Forks Hut in the Ruataniwha Conservation Park.

Mr Kindt, originally from the Netherlands, has been in New Zealand for 13 years.

Shortly afterwards, after meeting a local search and rescue boss, he started working on "a little Windows computer program’" which would be able to track search and rescue team members in the field.

Twelve years later, and that little program has come a long way.

Initially designed to be used in New Zealand only, it has been developed for use around the world.

When people install the software, he gets an email outlining contact details.

Those keep rolling in every day.

"It’s written specifically for the people who stand with their feet in the mud and are dealing with the situation," Mr Kindt said.

As well as allowing team members to tag their locations, and those managing searches to accurately judge search areas that have been covered, it also allows members to upload photos of clues such as footprints.

He does it all for free, to help people.

"That’s why I do it, it’s used in life or death situations."

He also has big dreams for the software, hoping to develop it to help emergency service personnel after major disasters, such as earthquakes.

If teams can use the app without needing to connect to the internet, they could send in photos and other information regardless of whether communications networks go down.

Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, described the app as invaluable.

Snr Sgt Benn, who has been involved in search and rescue operations for decades, said it made managing an operation more efficient, and also helped with reviewing which areas had been searched, and what the next steps in an operation should be.

"It’s invaluable," he said.

"We wouldn’t want to be without it."

daisy.hudson@odt.co.nz