Artificial intelligence played a key role in advancing the search for experienced mountaineer and orthopedic surgeon Nicola Ivaldo, who went missing in a mountainous region of Italy, after months of unsuccessful efforts.
Ivaldo disappeared in the Cottian Alps in September 2024 after setting out alone for a climb without informing anyone of his planned route. When contact could not be established for several hours, family members and associates raised the alarm, prompting a search operation.
Rescue teams later located Ivaldo’s car parked in a village, leading authorities to believe he had gone to climb one of two well-known peaks in the Cottian Alps. A large-scale search operation was subsequently launched.
Approximately 50 rescue personnel conducted ground searches across rugged terrain, supported by multiple helicopter sorties. Despite these efforts, no concrete leads were found, and the operation continued for nearly a week without results.
Toward the end of September 2024, heavy snowfall and deteriorating weather conditions forced authorities to suspend the search due to safety risks. The operation remained halted for several months as conditions made further efforts impossible.
The search resumed in July 2025 after snow began to melt. This phase incorporated drones and artificial intelligence software to assist rescue teams. More than 2,600 high-resolution images of the area were captured using drones.
The images were processed through an AI system, which analyzed each frame within hours and flagged objects that differed from the natural surroundings. One image identified a red object that was later confirmed to be Ivaldo’s helmet.
Based on this lead, rescue teams intensified operations in the identified area, leading to the recovery of Nicola Ivaldo’s body.
