HARC

Demining and Engineering Research in Pakistan at

Hameed and Ali Research Centre

The Hameed and Ali Research Centre is a vital link in the University of Western Australia demining research project. They work in close contact with

Afghan deminers,

Afghan demining organisations (which are based in Pakistan)

Mine Action Programme Afghanistan (MAPA) which is part of
United Nations Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA)

The Hameed & Ali Research Centre (HARC)

The Hameed & Ali Research Centre (HARC) is an independent Demining Research and Development Group in Pakistan which extends the UWA research to the minefields of Afghanistan.

Effective technology transfer is required for any improved tools and techniques developed at UWA to provide useful improvements to demining activities to remove land mines from Afghanistan and other countries.

Understanding the problems faced by individual deminers requires a close working relationship with them. Thus, the Hameed & Ali Research Centre consists of Pakistani engineering and support staff working alongside Afghan deminers on the research and development of tools for deminers.

The centre staff includes the following:

Mr. Malik Iqbal, Chief Executive

Mr. Irshad, Mechanical Engineer

assisted by

Administrator, Technicians, Administration Assistant, Computer Operator, Cook, Driver and two Chawkidders who also serve as deminers during simulated field tests.

Afghan Deminers are seconded from Afghan demining organisations when needed.

M. M. Iqbal - Chief Executive. Until his retirement in 1991 he was Chief Civil Engineer and Architect for the Pakistan Defence Forces, and oversaw the design and construction of many major buildings such as the Quetta Staff College, Skurdu Airport, Army Medical Centre at Rawalpindi etc. He took up a position as Chief Architect for Mari Gas Corporation and designed and constructed their head office in Islamabad and many installations at remote sites in Sindh and Balochistan. He also designed and oversaw the construction of several extensions and refurbishments for Islamabad's leading hotels. He retired from Mari Gas in 1997 and founded the Hameed and Ali Research Centre.

Some of our research projects have been transferred entirely to HARC. Others are joint responsibilities.

Development Process

Each of our concepts will follow a broadly similar development path:

1 Concept Origin

Discussions on problems faced by deminers, recording and describing these problems, and evolution of original ideas will produce concepts for solutions. The concept will be described in words and diagrams, possibly with a working model.

2 Demonstration Prototype

A working prototype (like the prodder, left, Jan 2000) is constructed to demonstrate the concept. This is subjected to preliminary testing, often in nearby surroundings, to demonstrate the potential strengths and weaknesses of the concept. This may lead to further demonstration prototypes (if it fails to perform, or requires further design work). The prototypes may be demonstrated in simulated field conditions, and the tests will normally be recorded with still photographs and videotape.

3 Simulated Field Tests on Demonstration Prototypes

These tests will be carried out on the demonstration prototype by project or demining personnel in representative field conditions, either in Australia or Pakistan. These tests do not require special arrangements because there are no explosive devices or dangerous conditions during the tests. Therefore, these tests can be conducted at suitable locations which are nearby the respective research centres i.e. Islamabad and Perth, Australia.

Simulated field tests will generally require that the prototypes are used for extended periods in several different representative conditions. Testing for at least on full working day (from dawn for about 6 hours) will be needed (unless the equipment fails earlier). Video tape showing close-ups of the equipment in operation will normally be required, along with still photographs and brief written comments to evaluate the equipment performance.

Simulated field tests will also be carried out with field test prototypes (see below). These tests will be used to obtain performance information which can be compared with actual field tests on identical equipment. This will tell us how well our simulated field tests predict actual field performance.

4 Field Test Prototypes

The results of simulated field tests will influence the design and construction of a series of field test prototypes. Whereas only one or two of each demonstration prototype will be built, field test prototypes will normally be produced in an initial batch of up to 10 units to be distributed as follows:

At least 1 or 2 units to be retained by Hameed & Ali Research Centre for display and for reference purposes.

1 unit to be sent to The University of Western Australia for display and reference purposes.

1 or 2 units for safety tests in Pakistan. These may be destroyed by the safety testing procedure, but the remaining pieces must be retained for analysis by the engineer.

2 units (minimum) for field testing in Afghanistan.

1 unit (minimum) for extended simulated field testing in Pakistan to obtain reference test results to compare with field tests.

2 units (minimum) to be available on loan for evaluation purposes by other demining groups.

5 Safety Tests

If there is a safety hazard associated with the equipment, safety testing will be required. For example, prodders must be subjected to tests with explosive charges to determine what will happen in the event of a prodding accident.

These tests require special planning and support.

So far, no such tests have been conducted in Australia. However, we have had expressions of support from local Army units who could assist us by providing test ranges, explosives and expertise.

In Pakistan, the United Nations Office for Co-ordinating Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) have special arrangements with the Risalpur Test Facilities of the Pakistan Defence Forces for performing these tests. Safety tests will be essential for several proposed projects.

6 Field Tests on Field Prototypes

After passing simulated field testing and safety testing (if required), equipment we are proposing that equipment will be sent for field testing by project staff working alongside demining teams in Afghanistan. These tests will require that equipment be used in representative demining operations in Afghanistan. The project demining staff will be responsible for the equipment, and for recording the tests results. Still photographs are essential, and written comments are desirable. The HARC engineer and demining personnel will prepare detailed test plans.

HARC Projects Helmet/visor: a cheap and simple means of making demining headgear much more comfortable with the result of reducing fatigue. Completed and Commercialised Improved prodders, particularly for hard ground conditions, where conventional probing is not feasible because of stones, hard ground, or rubbish. These are low cost, light weight and comfortable in use. Completed and Commercialised Comfortable and cheap mat for deminers to lie on. Completed Remote manually operated portable excavator. In Progress Blast protection apron to substantially reduce or even eliminate injuries to deminers during accidents from blast mines, such as the PMN. Completed Low cost manufacture of visors for face protection. Demining quality measurement. In Progress Metal detector testing

Quality measurement test preparations in Islamabad, Pakistan: January 2000. (Click image for full-size picture). From left: Nasser (driver), Ashgar (HARC deminer), Mr Irshad(engineer), Dilshard (lying, HARC deminer), Mohammed Younis (squatting, META, part of Afghanistan mine action program), Mr. Yusof (META), Mr. Sharif (data records), Mr Iqbal (Chief Executive), Mr. Nasser (engineer).

Commercial Products

Visors with helmets and prodders are now being commercially produced in Pakistan, with orders from US Department of State, US Defense Department, United Nations Mine Action Program for Afghanistan and demining organisations in Central and South America.

Contact Details

M. M. Iqbal, Chief Executive,
Hameed & Ali Research Centre
16 Bazar Road
G-6/4 Islamabad
Pakistan

Tel: +92 51 2 263 370
Fax: +92 51 2 264 225
E-mail: harcisld@isb.comsats.net.pk

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