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27 June 2025
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Technology: From rubble to rescue: The technology changing search and rescue
A general view of Soroka Medical Centre, the city's general hospital, at an impact site following a missile strike from Iran on Israel, in Beersheba, Israel June 19, 2025
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Amir Beeri
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In recent years, the world has watched in anguish as natural disasters and acts of war have left devastation in their wake. Earthquakes in Turkey (2023), Mexico (2017), and most recently in Thailand just this past March have flattened buildings and buried countless lives under layers of rubble. Just this week, following Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel, first responders raced against time to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The first 24-36 hours are crucial and can be the difference between life and death. The good news is that there is a technology that can mitigate the time to find those buried beneath the rubble.
What connects all of these tragedies – beyond the heart-breaking human toll – is the urgency of time. Every hour that passes reduces the chances of survival. That’s why integrating cutting-edge technologies into search and rescue, or SAR, operations is no longer optional, it’s essential. That’s why it’s so critical for emergency responders to be equipped with the most effective tools available — tools that allow them to locate survivors quickly, safely, and accurately.
One such technology that has quietly transformed SAR operations is Sense Through The Wall, or STTW, radar imaging. This technology, used by specialized SAR teams worldwide, can detect even the smallest movements — like the micro vital movement of shallow breathing ± through walls, rubble, and other obstructions.
STTW radar works by sending short, low-power pulses across a wide frequency range, allowing it to “see” through solid materials without disturbing the debris. In disaster scenarios, this provides rescue teams with real-time images of what lies behind collapsed walls or beneath layers of debris, enabling them to pinpoint human presence with extraordinary precision.
We have seen this technology save lives first-hand during several earthquakes. We do not just develop this technology — we have deployed it ourselves. Our team was the first international team in Bangkok following the recent earthquake in Thailand. Using the technology, we successfully located a survivor 5 meters (over 16 feet) beneath the rubble, the first survivor to be found at that depth. Upon detecting signs of life, our team immediately began rescue operations in collaboration with Thai authorities.
During June, in Israel, SAR teams once again relied on this technology to navigate chaotic, unstable environments, identifying survivors amid the destruction of buildings hit by Iranian ballistic missiles in Bat Yam. In these fast-moving and dangerous conditions, STTW radar offers critical, non-invasive insight that speeds up rescue efforts and reduces risk to both victims and responders.
These are just a few examples of crises in which this technology which saves lives has made a measurable difference. As urban populations grow and climate-driven disasters increase in frequency and severity, rescue teams are being pushed to their limits. Having reliable, proven tools like STTW radar systems on hand should be part of every nation’s emergency preparedness strategy. It’s not about replacing human expertise – it’s about amplifying it.
STTW radar is essential for modern disaster response
Disaster response is no longer a challenge faced only by large international organizations; it is a growing concern for cities and countries across the globe. From earthquakes to missile attacks, no region is immune to crisis. That is why building local readiness is just as important as global innovation. Municipal and regional emergency response teams must be empowered with training and access to modern technologies like STTW radar. These tools should be integrated into standard response kits, rehearsed in drills, and deployed at the earliest signs of catastrophe. Time and again, we have seen that preparedness saves lives – not just after the sirens sound, but in the months and years of planning before. Whether in an urban centre or a rural area with limited infrastructure, quickly locating survivors can be the most critical factor in reducing casualty numbers. We must stop viewing advanced rescue technology as a luxury and treat it as what it truly is – a life-saving necessity for every community.
Governments, aid organizations and emergency management agencies must recognize that STTW radar is no longer an emerging technology — it is essential for modern disaster response. The ability to detect life through concrete, and rubble is not just a technical advantage; it’s a moral imperative when human lives hang in the balance.
As we witness disasters become more frequent and complex, we must ensure that those on the front lines are equipped with the tools that give them the best chance to save lives. Technology like STTW radar does not just improve response — it changes outcomes. It turns uncertainty into action, and silence into hope. We cannot prevent every disaster. But we can choose to be ready.
Amir Beeri is the founder and CEO of Camero-Tech, a member of the SK Group and a world leader in the design and production of STTW Radio Imaging systems. Its Xaver™ line of through-wall imaging systems has become the solution of choice for search & rescue and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
What connects all of these tragedies – beyond the heart-breaking human toll – is the urgency of time. Every hour that passes reduces the chances of survival. That’s why integrating cutting-edge technologies into search and rescue, or SAR, operations is no longer optional, it’s essential. That’s why it’s so critical for emergency responders to be equipped with the most effective tools available — tools that allow them to locate survivors quickly, safely, and accurately.
One such technology that has quietly transformed SAR operations is Sense Through The Wall, or STTW, radar imaging. This technology, used by specialized SAR teams worldwide, can detect even the smallest movements — like the micro vital movement of shallow breathing ± through walls, rubble, and other obstructions.
STTW radar works by sending short, low-power pulses across a wide frequency range, allowing it to “see” through solid materials without disturbing the debris. In disaster scenarios, this provides rescue teams with real-time images of what lies behind collapsed walls or beneath layers of debris, enabling them to pinpoint human presence with extraordinary precision.
We have seen this technology save lives first-hand during several earthquakes. We do not just develop this technology — we have deployed it ourselves. Our team was the first international team in Bangkok following the recent earthquake in Thailand. Using the technology, we successfully located a survivor 5 meters (over 16 feet) beneath the rubble, the first survivor to be found at that depth. Upon detecting signs of life, our team immediately began rescue operations in collaboration with Thai authorities.
During June, in Israel, SAR teams once again relied on this technology to navigate chaotic, unstable environments, identifying survivors amid the destruction of buildings hit by Iranian ballistic missiles in Bat Yam. In these fast-moving and dangerous conditions, STTW radar offers critical, non-invasive insight that speeds up rescue efforts and reduces risk to both victims and responders.
These are just a few examples of crises in which this technology which saves lives has made a measurable difference. As urban populations grow and climate-driven disasters increase in frequency and severity, rescue teams are being pushed to their limits. Having reliable, proven tools like STTW radar systems on hand should be part of every nation’s emergency preparedness strategy. It’s not about replacing human expertise – it’s about amplifying it.
STTW radar is essential for modern disaster response
Disaster response is no longer a challenge faced only by large international organizations; it is a growing concern for cities and countries across the globe. From earthquakes to missile attacks, no region is immune to crisis. That is why building local readiness is just as important as global innovation. Municipal and regional emergency response teams must be empowered with training and access to modern technologies like STTW radar. These tools should be integrated into standard response kits, rehearsed in drills, and deployed at the earliest signs of catastrophe. Time and again, we have seen that preparedness saves lives – not just after the sirens sound, but in the months and years of planning before. Whether in an urban centre or a rural area with limited infrastructure, quickly locating survivors can be the most critical factor in reducing casualty numbers. We must stop viewing advanced rescue technology as a luxury and treat it as what it truly is – a life-saving necessity for every community.
Governments, aid organizations and emergency management agencies must recognize that STTW radar is no longer an emerging technology — it is essential for modern disaster response. The ability to detect life through concrete, and rubble is not just a technical advantage; it’s a moral imperative when human lives hang in the balance.
As we witness disasters become more frequent and complex, we must ensure that those on the front lines are equipped with the tools that give them the best chance to save lives. Technology like STTW radar does not just improve response — it changes outcomes. It turns uncertainty into action, and silence into hope. We cannot prevent every disaster. But we can choose to be ready.
Amir Beeri is the founder and CEO of Camero-Tech, a member of the SK Group and a world leader in the design and production of STTW Radio Imaging systems. Its Xaver™ line of through-wall imaging systems has become the solution of choice for search & rescue and law enforcement agencies worldwide.