These pages attempt to define the operational needs of individual deminers clearing minefields in many different countries, and to provide information on how these needs are being met now. We will update this from time to time as new information comes to us. If you have comments - please forward them to us.
We have also included deminers' desires for improvements in the short, medium and long term.
This is a long document with several supporting documents. Below is a summary of the major sections of this document (note that section 7 is in a separate document). Click each heading to skip to the start of that section.
Attitude and aptitude pre-requisites, remuneration and insurance, and non-financial rewards.
Initial/Basic training, field based training (on-site), refresher training, specialist training courses.
Basic and protective clothing, visors, helmets.
Personal equipment such as detectors, tools, and machinery for use by individual deminers.
Supervision and quality assurance, logistics and support, medical support, mechanized demining support, surveys, information services, food, supplies etc.
Supervision and quality assurance, logistics and support, medical support, mechanized demining support, surveys, information services, food, supplies etc.
Need for mechanization to deal with some tasks such as vegetation removal, road verges etc.
A simple statement of the needs of deminers in the field would probably list the following:
a) Mine detector
b) Prodder
c) Protective clothing
While tools, equipment and clothing are important, demining can only be effective if it is organised properly, and the deminers are trained to a high level of competence. Demining may involve thousands of people, and they must all work together to achieve the end result safely and economically. Therefore, we will first consider organisational and training needs.
The practical needs of deminers can only be understood and appreciated if one first understands the social environment in which demining has to take place.
Most countries affected by land mines have passed through a period of civil war or unrest which was caused by, or resulted in, damage to social structures and organisations. While the damage to buildings and injuries to people may be obvious, the damage to "civil society" may have much more impact on demining operations.
The essence of humanitarian demining is the need to clear explosive devices from mine affected buildings and land with 100% effectiveness. This requires discipline and highly effective organisation. When one realises that almost nothing can operate with 100% effectiveness when the social system has been ruined or severely disrupted, one begins to appreciate what is needed to support deminers in the field.
Many countries have erratic social systems even at the best of times: letters fail to arrive, potholes multiply in roads, laws are disregarded, black marketeers command supplies of luxuries and even essentials, and government processes are easily manipulated by corrupt officials. Anyone who has visited countries such as Italy, Pakistan, Kenya, Nigeria and many other countries would have experienced this. An engineering enterprise has to make allowances for these problems if it is to succeed. Operating in countries which are emerging from war or civil unrest is much more of a challenge.
For deminers to operate effectively in this kind of environment they need organisational support. These organisation needs are summarised below.
1.1 Attitude and aptitude pre-requisites (Trevelyan 1996)
Deminers need to be able to perform their work free from harassment and intervention. For this they need the respect of the local population. In Afghanistan, deminers are well paid (in local terms) but many of them could earn more by trading in carpets or drugs. Therefore, they need appropriate motivation to be able to perform their work. In Afghanistan, this comes from their religion (Islam) and pride in knowing they are re-building their country.
Before being accepted for training, deminers must sever any connections with political or military factions - government or non-government, and this needs to be strictly enforced. Any political activity by a deminer should lead to dismissal. This is necessary so that deminers can be seen as strictly neutral in a country where fighting or political unrest has been a daily part of life for most people.
A deminer also needs patience, thoroughness, reliability, and attention to detail. Incorporating these personal characteristics as a part of the selection process helps to build a capable demining organisation. However, one cannot achieve this unless there are sufficient applicants to be able to choose people with appropriate character and motivation. Afghan Technical Consultants (ATC) has attempted to make demining a high status occupation to which many people aspire, with reasonable financial rewards (salaries are US$90 - $200 per month depending on rank).
1.2 Remuneration and Insurance
a) Money as a salary. The people performing this work can earn money (much more safely) in their present location - presently Peshawar and equivalent locations in Pakistan. Typical pay for trained workers in a city like Peshawar is 3000 Rp / month. ATC pay their deminers 5000 Rp / month (US$142) and the funds are transferred to the individual deminer's bank account. Until 1995, deminers were paid through their team leaders who cashed a cheque and distributed the money.
(needs updating to 1997 figures)
b) Insurance. The family of the deminer must be compensated if he dies or is seriously injured. A compensation fund is established by channelling about 1500 Rp per month into a central account. Pay-outs are 150,000 Rp (death) or 75,000 Rp (maimed) (US$4286, US$2143).
1.3 Non-financial Remuneration
Apart from financial benefits, ATC deminers receive English language instruction and may have access to opportunities for travel to different countries.
Deminers also regard themselves as being part of an extended family where membership brings many kinds of social benefits which are not available to outsiders. While this may seem to fit in with the Afghan culture, it actually runs counter to the strong traditional ties which follow family and clan ties to the exclusion of all others.
These needs can be met in several different ways. However, there is wide agreement that there has to be a central coordination office which is often referred to as "Mine Action Centre (MAC)". This office is often run under a delegated authority from the United Nations or may operate under a legitimate government. An example of the former model is the United Nations Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) which is based in Islamabad, Pakistan. There is no recognised government to coordinate mine clearance in Afghanistan (at the time of writing). As an example of the latter approach, in Croatia, the mine action centre operates jointly with the Interior Ministry and the United Nations.
The mine action centre usually coordinates several aspects of the demining programme which are essential (see Lucas 1996, UNOCHA 1997)
1) Mine awareness programme to educate local populations about mines and where they are likely to be to reduce civilian casualties before clearance can be undertaken.
2) Survey work on the mine problem, and related problems such as booby traps and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The current approach is to compile this information in a central data base combining a geographic information system with information on mines, minefields, and other intelligence. The database also includes information on land use, local populations, refugee movements, and government authorities in control of each area to help decide where to focus mine clearance resources.
3) Prioritising mine clearance activities.
4) Coordinating and contracting several demining organisations which may include indigenous and foreign military personnel, police, para-military groups, indigenous and foreign NGO's etc.
5) Raising funds to support demining operations.
6) Liaison with government authorities in areas where demining teams are operating.
7) Training deminers, team leaders, and specialists to work to "Standing Operational Requirements" (SOP's) which dictate demining procedures to be used. Also to develop SOP's and change them to reflect local conditions and special requirements.
8) Improving technology and adapting techniques and equipment to local conditions. (see separate discussion below)
9) Investigation of accidental explosions, and other accidents, in order to improve operating procedures and to help avoid future accidents.
10) Monitoring demining team and organisation safety, performance, and quality control procedures.
Demining operations have had difficulties with innovation in the past. Therefore, different approaches need to be tried to improve access to new technology, new ideas, and to help MAC's implement innovation processes.
Several reasons have been advanced for these difficulties:
1) Ex-patriate experts tend to be military personnel who are not accustomed to making significant adaptations to procedures for local conditions. Also they are not used to the task of demining for 6 to 8 hours per day, every day, as their own first hand experience of demining has usually been brief. The tendency to stay for relatively short periods (6 to 12 months) means that they only begin to appreciate the need for innovation by the time they leave.
Suggestion:
Appoint staff with experience of civil engineering contracting for minimum two year terms.
2) The day-to-day pressures of organising a demining operation in a partly or wholly disorganised environment deny ex-patriate staff the time to devote to innovation.
3) Staff are usually isolated from normal "convenient" channels of communication to exchange ideas and to access equipment suppliers and information resources.
4) Donors usually restrict the application of funds to demining activities or victim support alone. Separate funding is usually needed for innovation.
Finally, manual demining has been viewed by many experts as simply too primitive and labour-intensive to be worth spending time and effort on innovation. Nearly all the research and development funding for demining has been spent on "high-tech" research in the hope of a break-through in detector or mechanical clearance technology.
Experience in manufacturing organisations over the last 30 years has shown that aiming for many small innovations, based on ideas from the "shop floor" (or demining teams in this case), can provide huge improvements in quality, safety and productivity. The concept is often known as "Kaizen" which is Japanese for "continuous improvement". Often the cumulative effect of these improvements has been greater than any technical "break through" from research labs. However, the process requires organisational changes to be effective.
The UWA research project could provide one model for bringing such an innovation process to a demining operation. UWA have set up an independent, indigenous research and development group in Pakistan to support the Afghan demining programme with private and US government funding (Hameed and Ali Research Centre). However, this can be complemented by raising awareness among demining teams of the need for innovation, and providing communication channels for ideas to be collected and tested. Relying entirely on ex-patriate MAC staff is unlikely to work, but they too have to be involved.
Clearly, the need for safety dictates a cautious approach. It is simply
not feasible to allow demining teams to try ideas they devise without first
checking them and subjecting the ideas to rigorous safety checks. However,
one way to reward ideas is to involve the originators in field trials once
an idea proves to be effective and safe.
Lucas, G. S. (1996) Planning and running major mine clearance operations. In Proceedings of EUREL International Conference on Detecting Abandoned Land Mines, Conference 431, IEE, Edinburgh 1996, pp 6-10.
Lucas presents an outline of how to set up demining programmes, particularly from an outsider's point of view. An excellent and detailed article, but no other references.
Trevelyan (1996) Report on Discussions with Afghan Technical Consultants, Peshawar, June 1996, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907.
Provides detailed comments on demining operations and some of the background to the setting up of ATC. Accompanying notes provide information from UNOCHA as well.
UNOCHA (1997) Afghanistan Mine Clearance Programme Work Plan 1997, the United Nations Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA), Islamabad, Pakistan.
This is, in essence, the budget statement for the 1997 demining programme. It gives details of every activity and associated costs with the numbers of staff at each point in the programme. It is also well illustrated. The Afghan programme has a very high level of indigenous staff (only 6 or 7 expatriates, about 4000 Afghans employed) and so it is financially very efficient.
Induction courses and basic training for all deminers and other staff. In many countries where land mines are a problem, young men may have little or no formal education, and may not be literate or familiar with machines or electronic equipment, except weapons. However, it would be a mistake to think that they have no experience at all. Satellite television, mobile telephones, computers, and even the internet are rapidly penetrating even the most backward societies.
The lack of formal education means that they may have difficulties in "learning how to learn" from formal classes with an instructor. Direct experience may be much more beneficial. Certainly, it would not be wise to rely on written materials, even in the local languages.
Training needs include:
1) Representative minefield areas
2) A selection of normal demining clothing and equipment
3) Samples of real mines and UXO's (inert)
4) Training mines
Traditionally, training mines have been inert wooden dummies because working models have been expensive (by humanitarian mine clearance standards). UWA are working on a low cost training mine which makes a loud and frightening, but harmless detonation using compressed air. Only a bicycle pump is needed to recharge the mine.
5) Minefield markings in place at training area
6) Instructors
7) Administrators
Deminers require a further course beyond the basic training course. The same caveats apply because deminers are often young men who have been recruited from the former ranks of combatants, and may have missed out on schooling during years of fighting.
1) Representative minefield areas
2) Normal demining clothing and equipment for all trainees.
3) Samples of real mines and UXO's (inert)
4) Training mines
Traditionally, training mines have been inert wooden dummies because working models have been expensive (by humanitarian mine clearance standards). UWA are working on a low cost training mine which makes a loud and frightening, but harmless detonation using compressed air. Only a bicycle pump is needed to recharge the mine.
5) Minefield marking equipment
6) Instructors
7) Administrators
This is bar far the largest training component in many demining programmes. Deminers in Afghanistan are given revision courses every 6 months. Typically these courses are run in or near operational areas so the courses reflect the day-to-day needs of the deminers. The revision course has similar needs to the deminer training above.
While team leaders may initially be recruited from the higher ranks of ex-military or para-military personnel, some deminers will aspire to leadership positions. These courses will also have to cover many specialised aspects such as logistics, transport, arranging accommodation, basic accounting, communications, minefield procedures, leadership and communication skills, minefield recording and mapping etc.
2.5.1 Radio and Communications Operators
2.5.2 Paramedics
2.5.3 Cooks
2.5.4 UXO handling and destruction methods.
A few deminers will need training on many specialised aspects of explosive ordnance destruction and neutralisation (EODN). This type of training will almost certainly require specialised military experts from western countries to act as instructors, and to supervise trainees during their first few years of work. Trainees will also need competency-based on-the-job training on specific types of devices. (UNOCHA 1997)
2.5.5 Languages
ATC (Afghan Technical Consultants) and other demining NGO's provide English language training to their staff, particularly for administration staff and team leaders. Access to training like this can provide a significant non-financial performance incentive because it opens many other employment opportunities. It may even offer the chance to migrate to a western country - an option which is attractive to many people after a civil conflict.
Training can be provided for deminers while on-site during time when off duty from active demining, or when weather conditions interfere with demining.
ATC (Afghan Technical Consultants) re-organised their demining team schedules in August 1997 so that each team spends at least half an hour each working day reviewing techniques, particular problems in the current area of operations, safety, productivity etc. (Trevelyan 1997d)
ATC Provide English language training to their staff, particularly for administration staff and team leaders.
This is a highly specialised activity which requires considerable investment. The cost in Afghanistan to train a dog and a handler is about US$8000 (Trevelyan 1996) and it takes about 18 months. However, the rewards are significant: dogs have been shown to be very effective in clearing roads and open areas.
The MEDDS system developed in South Africa offers significant benefits for scanning large areas which may or may not be mined. Specially equipped mine-proof vehicles suck air through vapour-concentrating filters which are then taken back to bases where dogs sniff for traces of explosive vapour in the filters (Joynt 1997).
Dog training programme also require veterinary support. Disease has been a problem for mine dogs in many countries, particularly Africa.
[Joynt, V., 1997] MECHEM Experience in South Africa. SusDem97: International Workshop on Sustainable Humanitarian Demining, Zagreb, October, pp S3.31-35.
Provides a pictorial summary of many innovative demining techniques using machinery and dogs with manual demininers following up.
Trevelyan (1997d Report on Visit to Pakistan, Nov - Dec 1997, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6907.
The last sections provide detailed comments on demining operations and information on demining accidents. Response of groups such as ATC to the accident problem and new initiatives to reduce fatigue and improve safety.
UNOCHA (1997) Afghanistan Mine Clearance Programme Work Plan 1997, the United Nations Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA), Islamabad, Pakistan.
This is, in essence, the budget statement for the 1997 demining programme. It gives details of every activity and associated costs with the numbers of staff at each point in the programme. It is also well illustrated. The Afghan programme has a very high level of indigenous staff (only 6 or 7 expatriates, about 4000 Afghans employed) and so it is financially very efficient.
Uniform, other clothing provided, hats and footwear, clothing for extreme conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow).
Deminers need good quality clothing for comfort and climate protection. They also need to be readily identifiable by local people so they can get on with their work with respect and without harassment.
The need for protective clothing is obvious, given the danger associated with mines. However, providing cost-effective protection is not easy.
Clothing which provides high level protection is expensive and uncomfortable to wear. Deminers have to work for extended periods (6 - 8 hours per day, 5 or 6 days per week) with high concentration, so clothing comfort is an important issue for deminers.
Discomfort will lead to fatigue, and inattention, which leads to greater risk of accidents. Less disciplined (or independently minded groups of deminers far from close supervision) may discard protective clothing and equipment if they don't perceive a high risk of accidents, particularly if it is uncomfortable to wear.
In some cultures, wearing protective clothing may be seen as a sign of weakness or lacking faith.
Selection of appropriate protective clothing needs to take into account the local threats and the type of accident which is most likely to occur. For instance, in Afghanistan, statistics show that nearly all accidents are caused by PMN-1 or PMN-2 blast mines during prodding or excavation. While fragmentation mines pose a much greater hazard, they are less frequently encountered and do not show up in accident statistics for Afghanistan.
Afghan experience has demonstrated that it is essential to keep detailed records of mine accidents, including full medical reports, photographs of the location, the deminer (showing injuries), investigators reports etc. This information is essential for the design of appropriate protective equipment.
At the FY1998 US Defense Dept Workshop on Humanitarian Demining Needs in Washington, deminers expressed the need for cost-effective, light-weight protective clothing. It is apparent that each demining group has different needs because they face different threats in different climatic conditions and terrain. Some deminers want all-round protection, others only need front protection. Existing military armour seldom provides protection for arms, legs, neck etc.
3.2.1.1 - Ballistic Fragment Protection
Top grade fragment protection is being used for some demining tasks. Click here for some examples (in eq-frag.html)
Fragment protective clothing being used in Afghanistan (eq-clothing.html)
A ballistic vest is being used by MAG and HALO Trust deminers (eq-clothing.html). Cost is believed to be about US$ 300 each.
3.2.1.2 - Blast Protection
Various blast aprons (eq-clothing.html) are under development by Andy Smith, in accociation with the University of Western Australia. These are designed to reduce or eliminate injuries from common blast mines only, but these cause the majority of demining accidents in some countries.
An analysis of accident reports in Afghanistan shows that prodding accidents with blast mines mainly cause abrasions and lacerations to the upper arms, neck, upper chest and legs (most deminers injured were squatting). However severe hand injuries (burns, broken/amputated fingers, broken wrist/palm and severe trauma) mean that many deminers can't continue their work. One answer to this may lie in a purpose designed prodder with hand protection.
3.2.2. Protective Headgear (eq-head.html)
The following links in the references below take you to specific parts of "eq-head.html".
3.2.2.1. UNOCHA Helmets and Visors provide ballistic protection for head, though thin visor has much less protection.
3.2.2.2. HALO Trust Visors provide lighter alternative, though top and back of head is unprotected.
3.2.2.3. Safety Glasses often used, but according to blast test reports they provide little useful protection.
3.2.2.x. Protective Headgear Alternatives low cost means for fabricating visors, enhanced comfort, solar powered ventilation for cooling, industrial helmet/visor combinations.
3.2.3. Gloves, full body armour and shoes
Protective shoes and clothing designed for ballistic fragment protection (pictures of Israeli equipment eq-frag.html)
Deminers have expressed needs for:
visors which are safe and comfortable for the eyes - some deminers complain of headaches when using 6mm thick polycaronate visors.
At the FY1998 US Defense Dept Workshop on Humanitarian Demining Needs in Washington, deminers expressed the need for scratch-resistant coatings for polycarbonate or scratch-resistant visor materials. Visors need replacement every 3 - 6 months in many locations.
light weight helmets and visors
ventilation to cool head in summer and prevent fogging in winter
protection for deminers in squatting position - squatting is much more comfortable than lying down as most procedures recommend
low cost
The deminer needs a range of specialised tools.
The heart of the manual demining process is searching through the ground for buried mines.
The most primitive (and sometimes the only method) is to probe the ground with a sharp pointed tool (called a probe or prodder) searching for a hard object large enough to be a mine. In some areas, tree roots, rocks, rubbish, rubble, pipes etc. may make this impractical, in which case the ground has to be literally excavated or dismantled to perform this search process.
Dogs or metal detectors can often be used to reduce the size of the area which needs to be probed or excavated.
4.1. Probes, Prodders and Picks (eq-prod-probe.html)
Deminers have expressed needs for:
tools which last longer without resharpening/replacement
tools which protect their hands in case of an accident
tools which can sense what the probe is touching (shortly to be released in Canada)
Before deminers can search the ground, the vegetation must first be cleared to provide access and visibility, and so that metal detectors can be used. Normally, all vegetation including long grass is cut to ground level. This is very tedious and tiring work. Much of the cut material has to be removed before demining can start. Refer to photographs of Cambodian minefields (click for more information on mines and minefields).
The deminer can only remove vegetation immediately in front. He is limited by reach because the tools must not touch the ground. If trip wire mines are suspected to be present, he must also check for trip wires before removing the vegetation, and while he is cutting it.
4.2.1 Hand tools (eq-vegetation.html) in use by demining groups in Cambodia and Africa and some possible alternatives. Tools include the following:
Secateurs
Hedge/grass clippers
Pruning shear
Bush saw
Hatchet (small axe)
Deminers have expressed needs for:
better quality tools which last longer without resharpening/replacement
tools which protect their hands in case of an accident
tools which reduce the manual effort needed to hold them above the ground and which are safe in an explosion.
Machinery can help with vegetation - this is covered under "Mechanized Demining Needs".
Power tools seem to have been neglected, yet they are widely used in developed countries for pruning and vegetation clearance. The current choice from manufacturers such as Husqvarna of Sweden is:
Backpack powered units (all about US$700) - secateurs, hedge/grass cutters, pruner (handles to 6 metre length) and chain saw (on handle to 6m length).
Higher power units with a transportable power pack (approx 100 kg) are more reliable but cost about US$3500.
MACA (Afghanistan) have stated a need for long-reach scrub and grass cutters. Although this equipment is not supplied commercially, it seems that commercial devices could be adapted for this.
Once a mine is located, it must be neutralized or removed. There are four different approaches:
1. Destruction by small charge detonation - the most widely used technique.
US Defense Dept has developed special shaped charges and other techniques to make mine neutralization easier. Refer to http://www.demining.brtrc.com/
2. Non explosive neutralization by chemicals (http://www.demining.brtrc.com/), burning, or low pressure abrasive water jets (subject of on-going R&D in USA and Britain).
3. Defusing in place by using special tools for each kind of mine, then removal to stockpile for destruction
Tools used by Norwegian Peoples Aid (eq-defusing.html)
4. Mechanical activation in place to trigger mine destruction.
This technique has been pioneered by Thomas Weber Carlsonn of Danish Demining Development Group working with Caritas in Cambodia. His mine-buster can be made from local materials.
UNOCHA (Afghanistan) have a need for a device which will mechanically press or pound on the ground in a 1 metre by 1 metre area. This would be used in conjunction with mine dogs. A location indicated by a dog would be treated in this way, with a high probability of setting off a mine if present. It must be reasonably cheap, and above all easily portable and robust. The ground in Afghanistan can be very hard, and this would be a significant design challenge.
Mined areas, minefields, and cleared lanes must be marked clearly. The main problem reported is that minefield markings are often stolen because nearby people are so desperate to find anything they can sell to others to buy food and essentials.
Refer to minefield pictures and look carefully for minefield markings. In Afghanistan, rows of red painted stones and rocks mark mined areas, and white rocks mark safe lanes. In Cambodia, red painted sticks mark mined areas, with string or cord tied between them.
Long term marking of mined areas is a difficult challenge. Two kinds of markings are needed:
1) Survey marks, particularly for accurately marked points such as start-points. The entire minfield perimeter is defined relative to the start point. These must remain in place, but only need to be located by a demining team when they arrive to start work.
2) Mined area warnings to prevent local people from straying into danger areas. Experience in Afghanistan has shown that it is very difficult to devise markers which are cheap, visible, difficult to remove, and worthless if stolen. Some success has been achieved in Cambodia with minefield marking schemes developed with local communities who maintain the marks after the survey teams have left until the area can be properly cleared.
Ideally, a deminer needs a "no-mine" detector which shows that the ground being scanned is safe and free from explosive devices. This has not yet been achieved.
This section is very brief, as there is a huge range of literature on mine detection technology.
Many researchers have tried to provide a multi-sensor device which enhances the current generation metal detector by rejecting signals which are not mines. However this has not yet been achieved. The difficult can be explained in simple terms:
A metal detector will reliably detect a metal object. Once detected, the other sensors must then be used to distinguish dangerous devices from metal junk in the ground. These other sensors must be able to say that "this ground is safe to walk on" to 99.9% reliability. So far, the best that can be achieved in semi-realistic conditions is about 70%.
If we look at the detection problem in a different way, there are many more possibilities. Manual demining with the current methods is the only method which works, and it is expensive. One of the best ways to make it cheaper is to be able to sense which areas of land are mine free and, therefore, do not need demining.
Advanced sensors could help with this - in essence what is needed is a cost-effective way of scanning large areas of ground for explosive vapour or other indications of explosive devices. The MEDDS system using dogs is one way of doing just this. So far there are just possibilities, and for the time being we have to rely on tried and tested techniques.
Metal
Detectors sense buried or surface metal objects. These may be mines, but metal
fragments and rubbish often appear much more frequently than mines.
This photograph (/images/africa/schiebel.jpg, from Andy Smith) shows one of the most common demining detectors in use from Schiebel.
In response to evaluations and comments from deminers, Schiebel, Vallon and several other companies are introducing better detectors which are:
- more sensitive
- more comfortable to hold, lighter weight
- longer lasting batteries
- integrated electronics box, no external cables
- robust
- telescopic or folding handle so detector can be used when squatting
- work in mineralized soil conditions - the detector shown gives a continuous reading if the soil contains minerals.
Deminers are used to metal detectors, and most of their needs for improvement will be met by these developments.
Some additional needs expressed by deminers:
- lightweight ground marking device to enable position of a suspect object to be marked on the ground without moving the metal detector away (must be non-metallic and attached to the coils). Need not be permanent. (UNOCHA)
- lightweight ground marking device to indicate the end of each metal detector sweep from side to side, so that the area of ground scanned by the detector can readily be seen. Need not be permanent. (UNOCHA)
- ability to distinguish shape of metal object
- ability to sense depth of metal object, even approximate depth (e.g. surface/shallow/deep).
- ability to sense whether explosive is present or not.
- tripwire detector
There is a universal need in demining groups for a trip-wire detector. Existing metal detectors don't have the required range. What is needed is a device which will detect and locate metallic trip wires giving a warning at a distance of about 20 metres, and then accurate location. Trip wires most often made from steel or non-magnetic wire, from very thin (100 microns) to quite thick (3 mm) diameter. By the time deminers encounter them, they are often rusty, lying on or just above the ground under leaves and damp rotting vegetation. They can be 1 metre to several tens of metres long, and may not be straight.
New Metal Detector Technology (eq-quantum.html) - Quantum metal detector. This is a gold prospecting metal detector developed in Australia. It is very sensitive and can work in highly mineralised soils common in Australia. A different type of gold detector has been adapted for demining by Minelabs Pty Ltd in Australia. Several hundred of these are now being made for use in mineralised ground conditions in Cambodia.
At present there is no practical alternative to the metal detector. Deminers want a detector which is cheap (<$3000) and which will sense any explosives, pinpointing the position to within 10 cm at a depth of up to 20 cm.
Dogs are the most effective explosive detector known at the moment. Deminers need more dogs.
A detection system which allows ground to be surveyed to find areas containing mines would be very valuable, even if the reliability of locating an individual mine is quite low. An airborne device would be especially useful.
So far, this type of capability exists in defence research laboratories for surface mines, but not for buried mines.
Team leader, supervisor/section leader, cook, paramedics
Food and Catering
Cooking Stove
Fuel
Food Supplies
Refrigerator/Freezer
Standing operating procedures (SOP's)
Paramedics, medical supplies and support, transport for evacuation.
Paramedics
Evacuation:
Equipped vehicle
Radio Communication
- Medical Supplies:
Basic
Stretcher, splints, bandages etc.
Wound cleaning and dressing
Scissors, sutures, etc.
Broad acting antibiotics
Oxygen/respirator, saline drips etc.
Minefield Maps and data, intelligence reports, local people's input
Area Maps
Recording Materials, Records, Forms, etc.
Books and Teaching Materials
Entertainement, Tapes and Videos
Military/Faction Movements
Weather Forecast
Contact with nearby demining teams
News and Sports Results
(see separate document for specialised demining machinery)
Generator
Fuel
Lighting, cables and towers
Vehicles. For:
Evacuation (on standby)
Transport (when needed)
Resupply (when needed)
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For more
information on any of these send us E-mail at demining@mech.uwa.edu.au
All graphics by Demining Research
Team. Aug 1998.
Last modified: 10:04:55 Thu 27
Aug 1998 by Lyn
Chua """"""""