This paper serves two purposes: (1) to introduce the Mine Warfare Association (MINWARA) and (2) to discuss how the Humanitarian Demining problem might be solved in less than a century. MINWARA is an international focal point for Mine Warfare (MIW), Mine CounterMeasures (MCM), and Humanitarian Demining (HMD)

Bottoms, A.

Molitoris, J.

English

James Madison University

Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Volume 1 Issue 1 The Journal of Humanitarian Demining Article 9 June 1997 From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem J. Molitoris Mine Warfare Association A. Bottoms Mine Warfare Association Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal  Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation Molitoris, J. and Bottoms, A. (1997) "From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem," The Journal of Humanitarian Demining : Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 9. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol1/iss1/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact dc_admin@jmu.edu. 1/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 1 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htmFrom 1000 to 100 Years inSolving the HumanitarianDemining ProblemDr. J. Molitoris and Mr. A. Bottoms, Mine Warfare AssociationIssue 1.1, Summer 1997.This information may not be current. Click here to link to the current issue.PurposeThis paper serves two purposes: (1) to introduce the Mine Warfare Association(MINWARA) and (2) to discuss how the Humanitarian Demining problemmight be solved in less than a century. MINWARA is an international focalpoint for Mine Warfare (MIW), Mine CounterMeasures (MCM), andHumanitarian Demining (HMD).Specifically, MINWARA aims to meet the objectives ofestablishing, maintaining, and encouraging open communications withand among all the organizations involved with MIW, MCM, andHumanitarian Demining; providing an educational function regarding the use and abuse of sea andlandmines; stimulating research in the technology and means to counter sea andlandmines (MCM) and practicing (via training) and implementing(operationally) "risk avoidance;" and stimulating the cross-fertilization of technological approaches to themine countermeasures/countermine problem among the military,academic, and industrial communities in the U.S. and abroad.We work closely with all parties interested in any aspect of the mine problem,including the James Madison University Humanitarian Demining InformationCenter (HDIC).Bottom LineMINWARA maintains a consortium of like-minded entities including U.S.government agencies, concerned countries, NGOs (non-governmentorganizations), private corporations, academe, and research laboratories. Thisorganization facilitates the sharing of information on emerging technologies tolocate, mark, neutralize, and destroy sea and landmines with moreeffectiveness and less cost and ensures that new technologies cross- fertilize1Molitoris and Bottoms: From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining ProblemPublished by JMU Scholarly Commons, 19971/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 2 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htmand are responsive to user needs. In the HMD area, we believe it is possible tomake a large dent in the problem over the next few decades (and certainly inless than 100 years); to achieve this goal will require a clear knowledge of theproblem and at least order of magnitude (factor of ten or more) changes in ourapproach to solving it.BackgroundThe Mine Warfare Association (MINWARA) was founded in June 1995 withobjectives congruent with the above purpose statements. The stimulus for thefounding of the association was the highly successful Symposium onAutonomous Vehicles in Mine Countermeasures that was held at the NavalPostgraduate School in April 1995. That symposium underscored the need forgreater communication and understanding of all aspects of the "Mine Problem"in and among all of the communities (military, government, academic,industrial, popular). The Second Symposium on Technology and the MineProblem that was co-sponsored (in November 1996) by the Office of NavalResearch, the Naval Postgraduate School, and MINWARA maintained themomentum of the first symposium, reinforced the perception of needs, andadvanced communication within and between the various communities. A thirdSymposium on Technology and the Mine Problem is scheduled in Montereyfor April 4-9, 1998 to continue this process; the fourth will be held inNovember of 1999. Four workshops (in November 1995, March 1996, April1997 and planned for November 13-14, 1997) have provided and will providea strong technical focus, as well as some of the requisite glue that binds thecommunities together.As a result of the two longer symposia and three shorter meetings, MINWARAhas achieved international recognition as a focal point for the application ofemergent technology to the Mine Problem. As a not-for-profit Corporation inVirginia and under the scope of the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3), MINWARAcan complement government and industrial organizations in a unique way. Weare in a position to promote synergy among existing or potential approaches tothe Mine Problem. From the educational standpoint, there exists a need toevolve communication and understanding among the political and socialscience communities and the scientific and engineering disciplines in militaryas well as civilian organizations.DiscussionIn response to the threat of sea and landmines, NGOs throughout the world arebecoming increasingly influential among governments in developing policiesand leveraging expenditures to mitigate and remediate mined areas. Theestablishment of open, confident communications and understanding with andamong NGOs is clearly in the interests of the U.S. Government and of theDepartments of Defense and State. MINWARA’s approach is one of2Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [1997], Art. 9https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol1/iss1/91/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 3 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htm"inclusiveness." Its mechanisms are and will be meetings, workshops, andsymposia at which all viewpoints will be encouraged to participate. MINWARAplans to build on existing relationships that it and consortia members have,especially the James Madison University HDIC program. At the same time,MINWARA believes that there must be specific research in social and politicalscience, as well as technological research, to establish the similarities anddifferences that exist in the understanding of the humanitarian deminingproblem and in the military approaches to countering mines on land and at sea.The objective in the former HMD case is to provide assurance. The objectivesof the latter MCM case are risk management and the implementation of costand operationally effective solutions. There are several environmental andcontextual differences also. These differences and similarities must be clearlycharacterized and applied to the specific areas needing remediation.Fortunately, some of this has already been done–largely by NGOs.MINWARA believes that members of the demining community must lookbeyond conventional countermine approaches in the Humanitarian Deminingaspect of the Mine Problem. MINWARA’s initiative is to look to theagricultural engineering community to see what approaches may be viablewhen combined with the technologies of handling explosives and hazardousmaterials. Our plan is to sponsor a design competition at the major agriculturalengineering schools–for example, the University of California at Davis (UC-Davis), Iowa State University, Virginia Tech, and Penn State University–culminating at MINWARA’s April 1998 meeting. According to MINWARA,agriculture provided the genesis of the tank in World War I and could provideanother interesting solution today. A recent visit by MINWARA personnel toUC-Davis showed a number of promising approaches and extensiveunderstanding of robotics and tele-operation, technologies of general use insolving the mine problem.Paralleling technological innovation must be quantitative analyses of thehuman and economic costs of failing to act aggressively as well as the costsand benefits associated with the various options. To make progress in the HMDarea, one must be able to quantify the problem in terms of well-definedmeasures of effectiveness. These areas also are fruitful domains for academicresearch.MINWARA has extensive professional contacts in academe and industry.Among the universities are MIT, Harvard, Caltech, Stanford, Virginia,Vanderbilt, Northeastern, Michigan State, Iowa State, University of California(Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Davis, San Diego), Pennsylvania, Penn StateUniversity, University of Florida (Jacksonville and Gainesville), andUniversity of Southern California. Institutions with specific strengths in socialand political science aspects of the mine problem are the University of SanDiego, University of Norwich, Monterey Institute of International Studies,MIT, James Madison University, and the Naval Postgraduate School. Perhapsthe most significant foreign contributor is Prof. J.D. Nicoud of Lausanne,3Molitoris and Bottoms: From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining ProblemPublished by JMU Scholarly Commons, 19971/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 4 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htmSwitzerland. There are, of course, many others.State of MINWARAMINWARA currently consists of over 300 individual members, as well as over20 corporate members. The percentages of individual and corporate members,by category, for the EOY 1996 are given in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. At theindividual level, its active categories are well-populated both from privatepersons and company-designated memberships. The Charter category is beingphased out, with the members being transferred to life memberships.Category PercentActive 42Active (Corporate) 43Charter 1Life 9Life (Corporate) 3Honorary 1Table 1. Breakdown of individual members by category.Corporate memberships are most populated at the Silver and Platinum levels,although we welcome support in any category.Category PercentBronze 6Silver 38Gold 6Gold 6Platinum 31Table 2. Breakdown of corporate members by category.MINWARA’s growth over the past two years has been 30-40% monthly, as seenin Figures 1 (individual member growth) and 2 (corporate member growth).Growth PlanWe invite individual and corporate members to join us concerning mines, minewarfare, mine countermeasures, and demining. Note that members come froma world market. Current membership by country is given in Table 3.Country Percent4Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [1997], Art. 9https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol1/iss1/91/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 5 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htmU.S.A. 96Canada 2England 1Australia <1Swiitzerland <1Sweden <1Table 3. MINWARA members by country.Figure 1. Individual member growth.5Molitoris and Bottoms: From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining ProblemPublished by JMU Scholarly Commons, 19971/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 6 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htmFigure 2. Corporate member growth.The demographics of MINWARA’s membership is shown in Figure 3. Itslargest member concentrations are in the NE and SE, where it has targeted itsSpring 1997 and Fall 1997 meetings. Most members currently come from theU.S.; however, MINWARA does have representation from Australia, Canada,France, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. If the development of MINWARAfollows that of most other current markets (cellular, personal computer,Internet, etc.), then it will begin to see even more member growth on theinternational side.Figure 3. MINWARA members by region.Solving the HMD ProblemThe Humanitarian Demining problem is a difficult one. The difficulty isthreefold:1. Warfare is common and especially in peacetime, members of thedemining community must be prepared for war.2. Many millions of mines and UXO (unexploded ordnance) exist innumerous countries of the world.3. Mines are being laid quicker than we can possibly clear them.The HMD problem dwarfs the well-publicized environmental problems inscope, effects on society, and potential cost. Solving the problem will requiremany approaches:Old ideas implemented in new waysNew ideasNew technologyIncreased funding and manpowerA clear understanding of the problem and the effect of our remedies.6Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [1997], Art. 9https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol1/iss1/91/5/16, 3:25 PMFrom 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem, by Dr. J. Molitoris and A. Bottoms (1.1)Page 7 of 7http://www.jmu.edu/cisr/journal/1.1/profiles/minwara.htmThis last item is of especial importance because we cannot make real progresswithout measuring it: quantifying the problem in a scientific manner isnecessary. How many mines are out there, where are they, and of what type arethey? We must define operational measures of effectiveness (MOEs) in orderto clearly know the problem and annually measure the effect of our attempts tosolve it. For example, if there are one million mines in a country at thebeginning of a year, if someone lays 100,000, and if we only demine 1000,then we are not making much progress. Such a small amount of progress willsave lives, but it will never solve the problem of there being more minesannually to cause more casualties.Clearly, we can count or estimate the number of mines. If we can count thestars of the universe and the particles of matter, we can count the mines onearth. The solution of the mine problem will make use of a variety of methods:People and training of themComputers and information technology (databases, geographicalinformation systems, the WWW)Conferences and symposiaAcquisition of systemsInternational agreements.Making real progress toward the solution of the HMD problem will requireorder of magnitude increases in effort and technology. Where there are amillion mines, we will need to be able to clear hundreds of thousands. Cheapand effective robotic systems may have an important role to play here.The people that solve the problem will be from a variety of backgroundsGovernmentMilitaryCompaniesLaboratoriesUniversitiesHost nationsGrass roots groups and individuals.There is thus the old problem of the two cultures (only here there are manycultures – military, academic, popular, scientific, literary, political) who mustall work together for there to be progress. If groups become polarized orseparated, then a lot of effort is simply wasted in conflict rather than beingdirected towards progress.Talk will not solve the problem, but coordinated action will.7Molitoris and Bottoms: From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining ProblemPublished by JMU Scholarly Commons, 1997

From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2027&amp;context=cisr-journal

From 1000 to 100 Years in Solving the Humanitarian Demining Problem

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

James Madison University