Technology in Mine Action

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Technology in Mine Action
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Outline of Presentation

• Introduction
• Whats news
• Spreading the word
• Current issues
• Key challenges
• Contact information

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Some initial thoughts

• Programmes have accumulated practical experience
  with technical and mechanical solutions.
• End-users and donors need to be kept informed
• New technologies are ready
• Still no silver bullet

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Some initial thoughts

• Programmes have accumulated practical experience
  with technical and mechanical solutions.
• End-users and donors need to be kept informed
• New technologies are ready
• Still no silver bullet

5
Whats News

• New Technologies
• Field Tests of Technologies
• Implications of New Technology

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Whats news Detection

• Hand-held Dual Sensors (US/Aus, UK/Ger, Japan)
• Veh mounted Wide Area Detection System
• Veh mounted Mine Stalker (GPR)

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Dual Sensor Detectors

• HSTAMIDS MINEHOUND ALIS etc
• Comprehensive tests around the world
• 1,000s of mine encounters
• Probability of detection 100
• Clutter reduction at a factor of gt5
• One dual sensor can do the work of 5 metal
  detectors

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Minestalker

• GPR developed to address request to detect
  low-metal AT mines
• Tested in Namibia and Angola
• Probability of detection 100 of the low metal
  AT mines at 10-35 cm 252 out of 252 (251 with
  built-in software, 1 with operator call)
• False alarm rate 0.08/m2
• Compared to metal detector (mine at 10 cm)
• Probability of detection nearly 5 times better
• False alarm rate nearly 18 times better

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Demining Machines

• Rotary Mine Comb
• (Angola)

• Mantis Multi-tool demining machine (Nicaragua)

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Neutralisation

• Explosive harvesting systems (used in Cambodia,
  possibly for the Balkans)
• Low-cost neutralisation devices

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Field Tests of Technologies

• Tests developmental, accreditation.
• Who National MA authorities, ITEP, NGOs,
  manufacturers,
• What
• Dual sensor MINEHOUND, ALIS (?)
• Wide array MDs (Vallon, Ebinger, Minelab,
  Schiebel)
• Mechanical TEMPEST, Beaver, Mini-MineWolf, .
• Neutralisation binary systems (Tpt safety),
  Torches,
• ITEP continues extensive TE
• Impact Testing provides confidence in the
  selection of MA Technologies

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Tempest
Mini-Minewolf
MD Array
Minehound
Beaver
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Management Implications of Technology

• Technical/Mechanical solutions should challenge
  managers
• Technical/mechanical solutions seldom stand alone
• Technical/mechanical solutions can increase
  productivity
• Cost of technology/machines can be additional to,
  or at the cost of, current capabilities
• Technical/mechanical solutions are applicable to
  specific areas, not all
• Maintenance and sustainabiltiy for
  technical/mechanical solutions must be planned
  and guaranteed
• Experience must be shared with others.

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Management Implications of Technology

• Technical/Mechanical solutions should challenge
  managers
• Technical/mechanical solutions seldom stand alone
• Technical/mechanical solutions can increase
  productivity
• Cost of technology/machines can be additional to,
  or at the cost of, current capabilities
• Technical/mechanical solutions are applicable to
  specific areas, not all
• Maintenance and sustainabiltiy for
  technical/mechanical solutions must be planned
  and guaranteed
• Experience must be shared with others.

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Management Implications of Technology - Examples

• Increasing the number of brush-cutters has
  increased effectiveness in Cambodia by 100 (2
  years work achieved in 1!)
• Use of low-cost rakes increases efficiency in
  soft ground in Sri Lanka
• Targeted clearing of populated areas and critical
  nodes
• Uni-disk with rotar bucket (Mozambique)
• Allu bucket/grinder (Cambodia, Sri Lanka)
• Improved Back Hoe (Afghanistan, Korea)

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Management Implications of Technology - Examples

• Increasing the number of brush-cutters has
  increased effectiveness in Cambodia by 100 (2
  years work achieved in 1!)
• Use of low-cost rakes increases efficiency in
  soft ground in Sri Lanka
• Targeted clearing of populated areas and critical
  nodes
• Uni-disk with rotar bucket (Mozambique)
• Allu bucket/grinder (Cambodia, Sri Lanka)
• Improved Back Hoe (Afghanistan, Korea)

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Spreading the Word(Technology news does not
spread easily)

• Mine detector handbook
• Journal of Mine Action
• UNMAS/GICHD Technology Newsletter
• UNMAS/GICHD technical workshops
• GICHD catalogues (MD, mech), studies (manual
  demining, etc.)
• IMAS
• ITEP Reports database

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Current issues

• How to identify productivity improvement
  potential
• How to improve the information flow
• Areas of continued concern
• Road clearance (Sudan 10.000 km)
• Area reduction
• Improved ergonomics (PPE)

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Key Challenges

• How to engage programme staff
• How to engage donors
• How to provide technology and machines
• How to manage new technologies

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Contact information

• Personnel
• UNMAS  Noel Mulliner - Technology Coordinator
• mulliner_at_un.org
• GICHD Al Carruthers - Technology Officer
• a.carruthers_at_gichd.ch
• Websites
• UNMAS http//www.mineaction.org/
• GICHD http//www.gichd.ch/
• ITEP http//www.itep.ws/
• JMU http//www.maic.jmu.edu/