VEGETATION

Vegetation Clearance (Early Work)

Development responsibility: UWA

Origin of concept

Vegetation clearance, so far, has not been a major problem in Afghanistan. However, it is a key issue in most other countries.

We have suggested a concept based on dragging heavy objects over the minefield to remove vegetation and tripwires before manual demining, to improve access and reduce accidents.

This seems to have been misunderstood, judging by comments from deminers (ATC, May 1997). A videotape is needed showing how farmers clear scrub in Australia. This may open up some possibilities. However, the uneven nature of much of the ground in minefields may prove a difficult barrier.

Minefields are often laid to deny use of hiding places or dead/covered ground to an attacking force. Flat or open ground may be easily defended by other means. Therefore, many minefields exist in very broken and rugged ground which compounds the difficulties of clearance. This is an urgent problem, possibly one of the most urgent world-wide.

Status (December 1997)

A masters student, Dino Busuladzic, has commenced further work on this problem. Initially he will look at man-portable power tools now in use in many industries in Australia for scrub control, pruning and timber cutting.

Tyre and chain model

This was tested at Toodyay in December 1996.

Concept:   tyres-chains-1.jpg

Actual:   tyres-chains-2.jpg

For unloading of chained tyres:  tyres-chains-transport-1-s.jpg

For reloading of chained tyres:  tyres-chains-transport-2-s.jpg

Where access to the minefield is possible from two sides:   minefield-clearance-2-s.jpg	Where access to the minefield is only from one side: minefield-clearance-1-s.jpg
The real thing on a field trip (December 1996):   chains-1-s.jpg	The minefield cleared of vegetation (December 1996):   tyres-chains-cleared-1.jpg

V-chain model This was tested at Toodyay in December 1996. Status (July 1997) No further work planned.

minefield-clearance-4-s.jpg

U-chain model Used by Australian farmers for scrub clearance. Seeking video film of units in operation. Status (July 1997) Awaiting video film.

minefield-clearance-3-s.jpg

We will supply you with reports and working drawings, papers etc., provided you agree to joint publications arising from this.
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All graphics by Demining Research Team. Aug 1998.
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