Mine Action Technology Now and In The Future: Is it realistic to expect great leaps forward in technology?

In order to realistically predict the future of demining techniques and technologies, past and present technology must first be examined and critiqued

Scalable Technical Survey for Improved Land-release Rates

Norwegian People\u27s Aid (NPA) tailors technical survey (TS) to allow for more efficient use of mine action assets and improved land-release rates. Many organizations consider TS an isolated activity and fail to streamline and effectively implement TS as a tool to reduce unnecessary, time-consuming and costly deployment of mine action resources

Thailand and Compliance with the APMBC: Mission Impossible... Or a Feasible Task?

This article addresses the mine-action challenges Thailand faces in maintaining compliance with the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Given the uncertainty of mine locations and the Thailand Mine Action Centre’s limited capacity, the delegation of Thailand’s mine-action resources can be an issue, as hazardous areas can be difficult to determine. The emergence of a new national land-release mineaction standard, however, means that Thailand’s ability to efficiently identify hazardous areas will allow limited resources to be appropriately assigned to areas needing clearance

Clearing Areas Right; Clearing the Right Areas

Although land release is a widely used term, its definition is not universally understood. There are various approaches to mine clearance with different survey steps taken before conditions of safe land release are met, and some techniques are more efficient than others. This article examines ways of improving land-release methodology to more effectively define and ultimately resolve the landmine problem

Remote Explosive Scent Training: Genuine or a Paper Tiger?

This article briefly discusses many of the research challenges presented by the Remote Explosive Scent Training (REST) concept. These challenges were reviewed at a recent workshop (8–12 February 2003), hosted by APOPO at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, and attended by all current players involved in developing or using REST for demining purposes

REST in Bosnia: A Pilot Test of Detection Capability

The following report discusses the results of a pilot study designed to investigate the possibility that Remote Explosive Scent Tracing (REST) technology can be used for area reduction in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Non-technical Survey: A Model for Evidence-based Assessment

In an ongoing effort to improve the Non-technical Survey, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining teamed with Stockholm University to create an enhanced version of the Cambodia Mine Action Centre’s Evidence Assessment Model. The aim of the project was to make the existing model more user-friendly and modify the current standards for assessment of mine-affected land. CMAC is testing a revised model to ensure that it meets the needs of their Non-technical Survey teams

Throwing Out Mines: The Effects of a Flail

The authors discuss a study conducted on flail machines to prove the effectiveness of this technology in destroying anti-personnel mines

Environmental Determinants of Landmine Detection by Dogs: Findings From a Large-scale Study in Afghanistan

This article\u27s purpose is to examine the strengths and weaknesses of mine-detection dogs in different environments. The experiments employed a total of 39 dogs in Afghanistan between October 2002 and July 2003. The results are discussed here

Mine Detecting Rats Make an Impact in Cambodia

Despite decades of national and international mine action efforts, Cambodia remains littered with landmines. The casualty rates are among the world’s highest, and there is considerable socioeconomic damage from landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Cambodia has established the goal to clear all known minefields by 2025. To achieve this, funding must be secured, and land release rates must be increased. This can only be achieved by taking advantage of available resources and improving land release methodology