Overview

• The online search-and-rescue study measured exploration diversity, movement specialization, and adaptive spatial proximity under limited communication.
• Across 34 teams (136 participants), role-based movement specialization was a positive predictor of task outcomes.
• Adaptive spatial proximity showed a marginal inverted U-shaped relationship with performance, suggesting moderate adjustments were most effective.
• Temporal shifts in the spatial metrics distinguished higher- from lower-performing teams as activity progressed.
• Practitioner pieces propose heatmaps, wearable tracking, and AI feedback for training but underscore complex data integration, algorithmic interpretation, privacy concerns, and the preliminary nature of the findings.