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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Reviving Old Mosul: 3d Modeling Aids Safe Clearance In Iraq, Erin Atkinson, Marc Dennehy, Craig Locke Oct 2023

Reviving Old Mosul: 3d Modeling Aids Safe Clearance In Iraq, Erin Atkinson, Marc Dennehy, Craig Locke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Under the 2014–2017 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) occupation, the Old City of Mosul, Iraq, served as a headquarters for the self-proclaimed caliphate. ISIS produced, stored, and transited money, modern munitions, weapons, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) through the city's ancient stone streets. To approach the immense and technically challenging task of clearing the Old City efficiently, effectively, and safely—without compromising the city's rich cultural history—Tetra Tech created a 3D model using aerial photogrammetry to quantify and visualize the scope and scale of the project.


Sepon Supports Uxo Clearance In Laos, Saman Aneka, Micheal Valent Aug 2018

Sepon Supports Uxo Clearance In Laos, Saman Aneka, Micheal Valent

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Sepon mine, owned by the largest international mining company in Laos, MMG Lane Xang Minerals Limited Sepon (LXML), is situated in a remote area of Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province—one of the most bombed districts in Lao PDR. Over 21,000 people have been killed or injured as a result of unexploded ordnance (UXO) accidents in the post-war period (1974–2018), of which 25 percent were in Savannakhet Province. This legacy brings unique challenges to mining operations, development projects, and agricultural production.


How Iraq Is Changing What We Do: Measuring Clearance In Urban Environments, Pehr Lodhammar Aug 2018

How Iraq Is Changing What We Do: Measuring Clearance In Urban Environments, Pehr Lodhammar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Iraq is changing what we think, say, and do about mine action. The terms, standards, and measurements used by the humanitarian mine action (HMA) community need to be revised as Daesh remains a destabilizing influence. While the Al Maedam district of Mosul fell to Iraqi Security Forces in a ‘last battle’ on 10 July 2017, the government declared an official end to the conflict in Iraq on 10 December 2017. Whereas HMA followed the signing of the Dayton


Lessons From The Past: The Rapid Clearance Of Denmark’S Minefields In 1945, Roly Evans Apr 2018

Lessons From The Past: The Rapid Clearance Of Denmark’S Minefields In 1945, Roly Evans

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The clearance of the vast majority of Denmark’s minefields during 1945 was remarkable. In just under five months, a force ranging between 750 and 2,600 German prisoners of war (POW) under the supervision of 250–350 Danish officers and noncommissioned officers cleared 1,389,281 mines from an area of 1,103.2 sq km (425.9 sq mi). Such speed of clearance stands in stark contrast with much of modern humanitarian mine action since the 1990s. This article will explain how such speed was possible and why it could not reasonably be repeated today. The article will also identify a number of important lessons that …


Clearing Safe Spaces For Drought Affected Communities In Somaliland, Edward Lajoie, Megan Dwyer Apr 2018

Clearing Safe Spaces For Drought Affected Communities In Somaliland, Edward Lajoie, Megan Dwyer

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) working in the Horn of Africa consistently identify conflict and climate change as two primary drivers of insecurity in the region. The HALO Trust’s landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) clearance in the Republic of Somaliland over the last 19 years has been at the intersection of these two issues.


Implementing International Obligations To Clear Mines, Stuart Maslen Jul 2016

Implementing International Obligations To Clear Mines, Stuart Maslen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Each State Party to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) that knows or suspects it has areas under its jurisdiction or control that contain anti-personnel (AP) mines has a clear deadline to locate and destroy those mines. According to Article 5(1), upon becoming party to the APMBC, a State must complete clearance within ten years, unless the deadline is pushed back in an agreement from the other States Parties at an annual meeting or five-yearly review conference.


Harnessing Geospatial Data To Enhance Erw Clearance In Pacific Islands, Jessica Dell Nov 2014

Harnessing Geospatial Data To Enhance Erw Clearance In Pacific Islands, Jessica Dell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since World War II, the prevalence of explosive remnants of war has persisted in the Pacific Island nations. Supported by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) and partnered with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, iMMAP seeks to improve the region's safety through lōōm, a geospatial information management system.


Analyzing Functionality Of Landmines And Clearance Depth As A Tool To Define Clearance Methodology, Martin Jebens Jul 2013

Analyzing Functionality Of Landmines And Clearance Depth As A Tool To Define Clearance Methodology, Martin Jebens

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine contamination from World War II remains in Skallingen on Denmark’s western coast. Skallingen’s dynamic coastal environment caused the mines to shift in the soil, and time, salt water and soil depth rendered some of the landmines inactive. Comparative digital-terrain models, in addition to surveys and analysis of fuze and detonator functionality, enabled clearance personnel to establish clearance depth and related criteria and facilitated efficient clearance efforts. As a result, the last functional mines were cleared in June 2012 after six years of effort.


Aicma Helps Demine Nicaragua’S Gocen District, Addison Embrey Apr 2013

Aicma Helps Demine Nicaragua’S Gocen District, Addison Embrey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Gocen district of the Mateare municipality in Chiltepe Peninsula, 20 km (12 mi) outside of Managua, Nicaragua, was contaminated with explosive remnants of war from the artillery school that operated nearby. With support from Acción Integral Contra las Minas Antipersonal (Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines, AICMA), a program of the Organization of American States, a large portion of the contaminated land in Gocen was cleared and released in 2012.


Kabul City Clearance Project, Mohammad Akbar Oriakhil Oct 2011

Kabul City Clearance Project, Mohammad Akbar Oriakhil

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After decades of conflict in Afghanistan, the Kabul City Clearance Project is addressing the dangers of mine and unexploded ordnance that pose a threat to the safety and livelihood of Kabul’s expanding urban population. KCCP is an 18-month collaborative project that utilizes the resources of Afghan Technical Consultants, a local clearance nongovernmental organization, to implement a mine-clearance plan in 36 impacted communities.


Integration Of Clearance Assets, Mark Thompson Jul 2011

Integration Of Clearance Assets, Mark Thompson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Integrating a variety of demining activities, including machines and manual support, is vital to an operation’s efficiency and success. An appropriate integration plan must include analysis of context, support requirements and limitations.


Mag's Questionnaire To Assess The Impact Of Clearance In Lao Pdr, Jo Durham, Xaya Xayavong, Boulphan Inthaxay Apr 2010

Mag's Questionnaire To Assess The Impact Of Clearance In Lao Pdr, Jo Durham, Xaya Xayavong, Boulphan Inthaxay

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an effort to assess the impact of clearing unexploded ordnance, MAG (Mines Advisory Group) developed a questionnaire to analyze local perspectives on clearance operations and to ensure positive livelihood development.


Humanitarian Mine Action Training Mission To Sri Lanka, Amy Crockett Apr 2010

Humanitarian Mine Action Training Mission To Sri Lanka, Amy Crockett

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Starting in August 2009, Sri Lanka received much-needed aid from the United States to address its vast mine/explosive remnants of war contamination. With the provision of training and equipment to the Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering, the citizens of Sri Lanka’s Northern province are slowly returning to their communities.


Clearing The Falkland-Malvinas Islands, Robert Keeley Jul 2009

Clearing The Falkland-Malvinas Islands, Robert Keeley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Under pressure from nations around the world and in compliance with Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention, the United Kingdom has committed to demining the Falkland-Malvinas Islands despite the potential cost of demining in arelatively mine-safe area.


Iraq Mine And Uxo Clearance Organization, Cisr Journal Jul 2008

Iraq Mine And Uxo Clearance Organization, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For Iraq, being plagued by landmines is only one of the many problems that it is currently facing. The country also suffers from sectarian violence, internal instability and economic hardship. As the government transforms its mine-action policy, one organization, the Iraq Mine and UXO [Unexploded Ordnance] Clearance Organization, has proven itself to be a powerful force in addressing the urgent needs of the Iraqi community. Though it faces challenges itself, IMCO shows great promise for rebuilding Iraq and stands as a model for future Iraqi nongovernmental organizations.


Iraq, Country Profile Apr 2008

Iraq, Country Profile

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2003, the government of Iraq has taken action against mines and unexploded ordnance. On 15 August 2007, Iraq acceded to the Ottawa Convention becoming the 155th State Party. The rising levels of violence in the region, however, have made focusing on mine action difficult for the Iraqi government—or anyone, for that matter. The decrease in security has taken focus, time and energy from ridding the country of its extensive problems with landmines and other explosive remnants of war.


Explosive Remnants Of War In North Africa, Ayman Sorour Nov 2006

Explosive Remnants Of War In North Africa, Ayman Sorour

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article looks at explosive remnants of war in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) from different perspectives, including the scope and history of the ERW, its impact and its relationship to security.


U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Program (Hd R&D), Anders Jansson, Marcel E. Durocher Aug 2006

U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development Program (Hd R&D), Anders Jansson, Marcel E. Durocher

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The anti-tank mine threat on access roads in eastern Angola is the greatest impediment to infrastructural rehabilitation, economic recovery and social development in that area. The authors discuss the method and equipment used by DanChurchAid to verify and clear roads in Moxico and Lunda Sul provinces.


How Deminer Position Contributes To Injury, François-Xavier Jetté, Jean-Philippe Dionne, Ismail El Maach, Aris Makris, Matt Ceh, Denis Bergeron Feb 2006

How Deminer Position Contributes To Injury, François-Xavier Jetté, Jean-Philippe Dionne, Ismail El Maach, Aris Makris, Matt Ceh, Denis Bergeron

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Research shows injury risks to deminers can vary depending on their body positioning. Here, the authors present the preliminary results of a study testing the effects of body position on deminer injury using mannequins. They hope to refine further their methodology and continue to learn information that will benefit the demining community.


The Truth About Flails, Cisr Jmu Oct 2003

The Truth About Flails, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Developed in the 1940s for use in World War II Europe, the flail was designed and proliferated to satisfy the demining community’s hunger for faster, safer and more efficient clearance methods. Despite being the most widely used mechanical demining tool in the world, the flail has been labeled by many experts as overused and misrepresented. Still, others believe the flail is an indispensable part of their demining program.


Vegetation Clearance Equipment: Huge Potential In Productivity Improvement, Nathan Kunz Oct 2003

Vegetation Clearance Equipment: Huge Potential In Productivity Improvement, Nathan Kunz

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Upon development of its D-1 vegetation clearance vehicle, DIGGER DTR (Demining Technologies) has successfully responded to many of the demands of the demining community. The second generation, the D-2, will feature several new upgrades and is expected to appear on the market by 2005.


Mine Action Clearance Operations Set To Begin In Tajikistan, Kevin Dansereau, Ian Clarke Aug 2003

Mine Action Clearance Operations Set To Begin In Tajikistan, Kevin Dansereau, Ian Clarke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in conjunction with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) signed an agreement in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at the end of May that will begin the first internationally-supported mine action program in Tajikistan. The following article provides a brief discussion of the landmine situation in Tajikistan and the goals of the new mine action project.


The Humpty Dumpty Institute Forges Innovative Public-Private Partnerships For Landmine Clearance In The Caucasus, Daniela Kempf, William Rouhana Aug 2003

The Humpty Dumpty Institute Forges Innovative Public-Private Partnerships For Landmine Clearance In The Caucasus, Daniela Kempf, William Rouhana

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) is a New York-based, non-profit organization dedicated to establishing effective and innovative public-private partnerships to ameliorate the global landmine crisis. The Institute has ongoing partnerships with a variety of public and private organizations. Together, these partnerships have raised over $1.5 million (U.S.) for landmine detection and clearance operations in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Mozambique, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Eritrea. To date, HDI’s programs have focused on clearance and subsequent economic re-development in partnership with the U.S. State Department (DOS), the International Trust Fund (ITF), the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI), the New …


A Fresh Approach To Road Clearance Operations, Roger West Apr 2003

A Fresh Approach To Road Clearance Operations, Roger West

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

UXB International has employed a combined approach to clearance activities in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The author discusses how his organization uses this unique method of mine clearance.


Mechanically Assisted Mine Clearance Operations, Greg Caison Aug 2002

Mechanically Assisted Mine Clearance Operations, Greg Caison

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Force XX1 Solutions International recently developed a separate organization devoted to global humanitarian operations known as Humanitarian Force. Using mechanically assisted methods, the Humanitarian Force team worked with the Namibia Defense Force (NDF) to clear several hundred mined berms in northern Namibia.


Bombs Away: A Proactive Approach, Lisa M. Vanada Apr 2001

Bombs Away: A Proactive Approach, Lisa M. Vanada

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

UXO clearance in Guam and the Pacific Islands is considered mostly "emergency removal." The Journal examines how improper disposal, fatalities and a lack of survey or accident data compounds the problem for this region.


Rhino In Cambodia, Manfred Joehnk Apr 2001

Rhino In Cambodia, Manfred Joehnk

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

RHINO, a large and powerful demining tool geared towards large clearance operations, has been put to the test--both on testing grounds and in the field. The result: a level of performance and operability that alleviates the concerns of critics.


Uxo Clearance In Guam And The Pacific Islands Is Considered Mostly "Emergency Removal." The Journal Examines How Improper Disposal, Fatalities And A Lack Of Survey Or Accident Data Compounds The Problem For This Region., Ruth Bottomley Apr 2001

Uxo Clearance In Guam And The Pacific Islands Is Considered Mostly "Emergency Removal." The Journal Examines How Improper Disposal, Fatalities And A Lack Of Survey Or Accident Data Compounds The Problem For This Region., Ruth Bottomley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite the dangers, villagers often resort to clearing mine fields, especially when the use of valuable agricultural lands is at stake. This practice is a common topic for discussion in the demining community, although it is far from being resolved.


Manual Demining In Afghanistan, Kefayatullah Eblagh Jun 2000

Manual Demining In Afghanistan, Kefayatullah Eblagh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article has been removed.


A Full-Scale Evaluation Of Lightweight Personal Protective Ensembles For Demining In Providing Protection Against Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, Aris Makris, J. Nerenberg Jun 2000

A Full-Scale Evaluation Of Lightweight Personal Protective Ensembles For Demining In Providing Protection Against Blast-Type Anti-Personnel Mines, Aris Makris, J. Nerenberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A wide range of equipment, in the form of helmets, vests, aprons and trousers, is currently in use around the world to protect deminers against the effects of AP mines. Significant variations exist in terms of the level of protection afforded, operational usefulness, quality of manufacturing and cost of each of these components. To date, there have been limited studies undertaken to systematically and quantitatively assess the effectiveness of the different protective components applied to both the civilian and military demining theaters. This study summarizes the efforts of numerous full-scale test series carried out in 1999, with particular emphasis on …