In order to create the definitive list of demining machines that are currently available on the international market, GICHD created the GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment Catalogue. It highlights numerous machines and will be updated annually, as its creators hope that it will better aid the attempt to eradicate the world’s landmines by 2010

Shroeder, Detlef

English

James Madison University

Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Volume 6 Issue 1 The Journal of Mine Action Article 32 April 2002 GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment Catalogue Detlef Shroeder 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 Shroeder, Detlef (2002) "GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment Catalogue," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 6 : Iss. 1 , Article 32. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss1/32 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. (L -R} Armtrac 325 in Kosovo. MV-flail working in Croatia. The PRO MAC bdm48 cutting bamboo in Thai land. GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment Catalogue In order to create the definitive list of demining machines that are currently available on the international market, GICHD created the GICHD mechanical mine clearance equipment catalogue. It highlights numerous machines and will be updated annually, as its creators hope that it will better aid the attempt to eradicate the world's landmines by 2010. by Detlef Shroeder, GICHD Background Antipersonnel (AP) landmines con-tinue ro threaten rbe lives and livelihood of millions. The UN names 86 countries affected by mines in recent statis tics. Although it has not proved possible ro estimate rhe number of mines deployed world wide, it can be recognized that mines are a scourge for those unfortunate enough to live with in their proximity. T he Ottawa Convention was signed in 1997, and an important aim of the Convention is that all AP mines should be removed a nd destroyed by 2010. Achieving this aim will be a major chal -lenge for the mine action community. T he speed and safety of demining opera-tions must be increased. Efficiency and cost effectiveness must be improved. The use and continued development of mechan i-cal mine clearance systems may prove to be the best means for the realization of the 20 I 0 aim. Mechanical equipment can save precious time for manual deminers by preparing the ground for rhem; ma-chi n es can be emp loyed ahead of deminers ro remove, deronate, destroy or si ft out mines. These functions can be combined, and some of the latest designs are using a "roolbox" system, greatly in-creasing the range and work flexibility of existing machines. Dem in i ng organizations can now employ a range of commercially available machinery for their operations because of rhe many companies developing a wide variety of purpose-built machines for mine clearance. e History of Mechanica lne Clearance Equipmen Mechanical means of mine clearance were first developed for mi litary purposes such as mine field breaching. Flails were developed in South Africa and the United Kingdom during rhe second World War. The idea of mechanical mine clearance is not new. What is surprising is how little mechanical clearance was further devel-oped until the last decade. e GIHCD Mechanical ine Clearance atalogue It is now often stared that humanitar-ian mine clearance began in Afghanistan Geneva ational Center for Humanitarian Demining in 1989. Since rhattime, mine clearance or-ganizations have used machines to clear mines or assist manual clearance with varied results. Until recently, most ma-chines were designed for military and nor humanitarian tasks. Through continued experimentation and adaptation, consid-erable experience has been built up by mine clearers and the choice of rools for the task has expanded. In 1999, the Ger-man government, acting on behalf of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), rook the responsibility for producing a catalogue of the mechanical demining equipment available on the world market. The German government has in turn tasked the Geneva [merna-tiona! Ce ntre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) with amending and updating the list to form a mechanical demining equipment catalogue. The 1m of the a a gue The GICHD catalogue has two aims: ro provide current information about machines for mine clearance avai l-able on the international marker and to provide an annually updated database for such equipmen r. Previous catalogues have given a general overview of available systems, bur the new catalogue will seek ro provide funher information about commercial machines useful to the demining community, including some purpose-built systems under development. The Concept of the Catalogue The G ICHD catalogue highlights different machines and p rovides a concise explanation of their mode of operation. The machines are grouped in categories such as flails, tillers, combined sys tems, sifters, vegetation curters, mine protected vehicles and "multi-too ls." In general, the information given for each machine covers four pages, includ-ing illustrations. "Iechnical data for each machine is included in tables ar the back of rhe document. Each machine is de-tailed in paragraphs covering: I. General description 2. Clearance/Working methodology 3. Current usage 4. Engine, fuel and oil types and quannnes 5. Facrory support 6. Maintenance support 7. Tests and evaluations 8. Strengths and limitations 9. Manufacturer's point of contact 10. Technical data The catalogue covers 3 1 different machines. Published in January 2002, the catalogue will be distributed ro members of rhe international mine clearance com-munity, including NGOs, chariti es, commercial mine clearance companies, UN bodies, donor organizations, foreign GICHD Equipment Catalogue governments and national demining pro-grams. It is also available on the GICHD website www.gichd.ch. T he catalogue will serve the user in the fie ld by explaining the choice of machinery available, what it does, how much it might cost and how ro contact the manufacturer. It is not in-tended ro acr as free advertising for systems producers but is an objective view of the choice of equipment available ro the deminer. otologue Preporation The information contained within the catalogue comes from three main sources: • Manufacturers, who explain the mode of operation and provide technical data and costs of their machines. • Feedback from th e field by demining organizations, which assess the actual performance of systems, and offer suggestions for user requirements. • National and international evalu-ations and tests, where conducted. The GICHD mechanical mine clearance catalogue does nor in any way endorse the products shown. The orga-nizations that produce the equipment featured within it are independent organizations and are not in any way affiliated with the GICHD. The inter-national Test and Evaluation Program (ITEP) has nor yet begun in earnest; therefore national or independent tests and evaluations reported in the catalogue have no international authority, and are for consideration only. Where possible, the provenance of all such tests is given. umm The GICHD mechanical m1ne clearance equipment catalogue is de-signed to be a definitive list of demining machines on the international marker. It aims to be as comprehensive as possible, and will be updated annually. It features machines designed for mine clearance, commercial machines successfu lly adapted from other military or civilian purposes and pro totypes and machines still under development. It will enable a d ialogue between producers, evaluators and users, to improve the capabilities of equipment by the cross-pollinations of posi-tive ideas throughout the international humanitarian deminingcommuniry. Finally, it will hopefully improve the prospect for the worldwide eradication of AP mines by the year 2010. • *All photos courtesy of the author. Contact Information D erlef Schroeder Geneva International Centre for Humani tarian Demining (GICHD) Av. de Ia Paix 7bis Post Box 1300 1211 Geneva 1 Switzerland Tel: +41 (0) 22 906 16 78 Fax: +41 (O) 22 906 16 90 Mobile: +41 (O) 79 68 72257 E-mail: d.schroeder@gichd.ch Website: www.gichd.ch (L-R} The DTWTempest built in Cambodia cutting vegetation. The Mine Guzzler working in Egypt. The bdm48-2. 1Shroeder: GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment CataloguePublished by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2002

GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment Catalogue

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GICHD Mechanical Mine Clearance Equipment Catalogue

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