Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

James Madison University

1998

ERW clearance

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Current Situation And Perceived Needs For Head And Face Protection In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith Dec 1998

Current Situation And Perceived Needs For Head And Face Protection In Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The safety equipment used in humanitarian demining in developing countries would be considered inadequate by any Western army engaged in combat demining or explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) work. No set of standards is imposed and the standards that have arisen are surprisingly low. There is no widely accepted need for better protective equipment, but demining organisations do seem to be slowly levelling-up in the equipment that they use. Very few demining groups routinely wear helmets. Those demining groups that are concerned about head protection usually favour a 30cm high full-face visor hanging on a head-harness (or head-frame). The visor provides …


Use Of Imagery And Gis For Humanitarian Demining Management, Sam Samuel, Jack Gentile, Glen Gustafson, Mary Kimsey, Helmut Kraenzle, James Wilson, Stephen Wright Dec 1998

Use Of Imagery And Gis For Humanitarian Demining Management, Sam Samuel, Jack Gentile, Glen Gustafson, Mary Kimsey, Helmut Kraenzle, James Wilson, Stephen Wright

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the fall of 1996, the Center for Geographic Information Science (GIS) at James Madison University became involved in a Department of Defense project, under the auspices of Essex/Star Mountain, Inc. This project evaluated the data needs and data management systems for humanitarian demining in the Third World. In particular, it focused on the information needs of demining in Cambodia and in Bosnia. During the first phase of the project one team of researchers attempted to identify all sources of unclassified country data, image data, and map data. Another team of researchers evaluated commercial off-the-shelf computer software packages for the …


Strengthening Humanitarian Demining And Related Activities Through The Emphasis On Comparative Advantages, Joe Lokey Oct 1998

Strengthening Humanitarian Demining And Related Activities Through The Emphasis On Comparative Advantages, Joe Lokey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

One of the foundations of contemporary economic systems is that expertise can create value. Based on this notion, it follows that economic efficiency results if every person does what he or she does best. Preferences, competencies, and resource capacity in the world of economics and trade drive these choices. In humanitarian pursuits, the trade aspects are less clear, and the financial aspects are less relevant, but the efficiencies gained from applying limited resources to a global crisis are still clear and relevant.


Demining Technologies, Qadeem K. Tariq Oct 1998

Demining Technologies, Qadeem K. Tariq

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian mine clearance is a new phenomenon in the world. Therefore, well-coordinated and concrete steps need to be taken at international levels to address this issue. The Humanitarian mine-clearance technology has evolved at organizational, regional, and national levels in various parts of the world. However, at the international level, very little has been done so far to learn from these individual but practical lessons. The current effort s to develop humanitarian mine-clearance technology is either not coordinated or is poorly coordinated with field-level requirements. Efforts are required to organize the humanitarian mine-clearance technology at the international level and to develop …


Biosensor Applications, Henrik Westander Oct 1998

Biosensor Applications, Henrik Westander

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The biosensor, or artificial dog nose, which identifies mines has now a new and civilian owner, Biosensor Applications Sweden AB, based in Orebro. The company has considerably strengthened its financial resources, currently by 5 million US dollars, and intends to raise further capital on the stock exchange.


What Of Chechnya?, Joe Lokey Jun 1998

What Of Chechnya?, Joe Lokey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There are too many Chechen mothers crying tonight. The scene is hauntingly familiar but the truth of this particular tragedy remains shrouded behind a wall of distortion and indifference. If the inordinate amount of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) were the only problems, simple magic and wizardry might be a realistic and reasonable solution to the devastation that has befallen this land that once was a beautifully scenic pocket of smiles nestled in the Caucasus.


Demining: Enhancing The Process, Colin King Jun 1998

Demining: Enhancing The Process, Colin King

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There is a good deal of frustration surrounding the demining component of mine action; much stems from the sneaking suspicion that technology to improve the process already exists. Almost everybody recognises that humanitarian demining is slow and dangerous, and most see a need to enhance it. But despite years of research, little has changed in the field: what's going wrong?


Humanitarian Demining: The Challenge For Robotic Research, Stefan Havlík, Peter Licko Jun 1998

Humanitarian Demining: The Challenge For Robotic Research, Stefan Havlík, Peter Licko

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Current methods for detecting and removing mines are dangerous, too costly, and, considering the number of abandoned mines, very slow. Mechanical systems are most frequently used to clear large areas polluted by mines. Mechanical systems usually consist of a tank that uses rollers to apply pressure to the ground, rotary flails that beat the ground, or a rake that unearths and presses the mines. The main drawback of purely mechanical demining is that no system can satisfy the desired 100% reliability of humanitarian demining. Consequently, all cleaned areas require manual verification. Thus, an urgent need exists to develop safe and …