Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Decision Support For Mine Action - Kosovo, Aldo Benini

Global CWD Repository

Shortly after deploying the first-ever landmine impact survey team to the field in Yemen during July 1999, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) was asked by the European Union and the U.S. State Department’s Office for Global Humanitarian Demining Programs to make a critical contribution to the international response in the province of Kosovo in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The mission: to classify affected communities in Kosovo by the severity of socio-economic impacts caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and develop a system for prioritizing the tasks that the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center (UNMACC) managed. The …

Rhino Earth Tiller Test Report: Area Reduction In Mixed Minefields, Christopher Wanner

Global CWD Repository

The Rhino is a tracked tilling vehicle custom designed and built from the ground up. The working tiller consists of two horizontal drums, stacked one overtop of the other. The drums are studded with commercially available, asphalt shredding chisels. The lower drum counter rotates against the direction of vehicle travel, excavating soil and objects from burial depths of 25 – 35 centimeters. The excavated soil and constituent objects are carried up the face of the lower, digging drum and into the 1 to 5 centimeter gap between the lower and upper drums. The chisels on the two drums mesh with …

A Multidisciplinary Analysis Of Frequency Domain Metal Detectors For Humanitarian Demining, Claudio Bruschini

Global CWD Repository

This thesis details an analysis of metal detectors (low frequency electromagnetic induction devices) with emphasis on Frequency Domain (FD) systems and the operational conditions of interest to humanitarian demining.

After an initial look at humanitarian demining and a review of their basic principles we turn our attention to electromagnetic induction modelling and to analytical solutions to some basic FD direct (forward) problems. The second half of the thesis focuses then on the analysis of an extensive amount of experimental data. The possibility of target classification is first discussed on a qualitative basis, then quantitatively. Finally, we discuss shape and size …

Mission To Assess Future Sustainable Options Of The Lao Uxo Trust Fund And The Uxo Lao Mine Action Programme, Robert Keeley, Alison Allcock, Thongdeng Singthilath, Marty Kongsaysy

Global CWD Repository

This report sets out some ideas for scoping the contamination problem in Lao PDR and suggests ways by which priority areas could be identified. This leads to means by which long, medium and short term strategic action plans could be developed and an exit strategy for international assistance established. This report then identifies two options for reconstructuring the UXO program that address stakeholder concerns.

To Walk The Earth In Safety 4th Edition (Fy2002), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

By the end of 2002, the United States will have provided more than $600,000,000 to 43 countries, as well as to northwest Somalia, for various humanitarian demining efforts, such as deminer training, mine awareness and mine clearance, orthopedic assistance to, and socioeconomic reintegration programs for, landmine accident survivors and their families. More than $100,000,000 of this total was spent in Fiscal Year 2002, one of the largest commitments of any nation involved in financing humanitarian demining activities.

The goals of the U.S. Humanitarian Demining Program are simple and direct: to reduce the loss of life and limb of innocents; to …

Locating Landmines And Uxo: A Methodological Lesson From The Ethiopian Landmine Impact Survey, Michael Fleisher

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

One of the most important parts about implementing effective Landmine Impact Surveys is first identifying which communities have a landmine/UXO problem. The author describes how Expert Opinion Collection (EOC) is used in Ethiopia to overcome the obstacles survey teams face when gathering their information.

The Severe Duty Vegetation Shredder Technical Testing Of Capability, Christopher Wanner

Global CWD Repository

The Severe Duty Vegetation Shredder (SDVS) is designed to safely remove this obstacle to demining by opening up the general accessibility of a mined area, reducing the impediments to sweeping with hand held mine detectors, improving the deminer’s visibility of the threat, reducing the risk to the deminer by eliminating the hazardous process of going into the minefield on foot to clear brush, and by reducing the need for hauling away residual cut vegetation. The SDVS was designed and built by Israel Aircraft Industries Ramta Division. The prototype unit was delivered in December 2001 and a variety of tests were …

The South East Asia Mine Action Cooperation And Technology Workshop, Cisr

Global CWD Repository

The South East Asia Mine Action Cooperation and Technology Workshop was a five-day event co-sponsored by the US Departments of State and Defense, hosted by the Thailand Mine Action Cente,r and organized by Mine Action Information Center of James Madison University. It was held March 4-8, 2002 in Bangkok, Pak Chong, and Aranyaprathet, Thailand.

The workshop goals were, 1) to bring together mine-afflicted Asian countries to share lessons learned and to facilitate closer cooperation, 2) to allow donor nations and organizations a chance to gain an appreciation for landmine challenges in the region, 3) to allow all participating countries to …

Summary Report Minebreaker 2, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Summary Report MINEBREAKER 2

Tractor Accessorized Zerriest Series Ii, U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development

Global CWD Repository

The TAZ II is a large tracked Caterpillar Graphic 1 – TAZ II Corporation vehicle (325B L Excavator) with a specialized vegetation cutting attachment developed by Timberline Environmental Services. See graphic 1. Timberline Environmental Services has been involved in vegetation clearance for nearly 23 years, supporting both civilian and military organizations. Military support missions have dealt primarily with unexploded ordnance (UXO). By utilizing the Caterpillar base carrier, the TAZ II System has the worldwide product support of the Caterpillar Corporation. The system is capable of masticating all vegetation ranging from light grasses to large trees, as well as excavating the …

The Socio-Economic Impact Of Mine Action In Afghanistan: A Cost-Benefit Analysis, William A. Byrd, Bjorn Gildestad

Global CWD Repository

This study was conducted as part of the World Bank-funded "Afghanistan Watching Brief Program", jointly implemented by UNDP and the World Bank. It is an outgrowth of a report entitled Study of the Socio-Economic Impact of Mine Action in Afghanistan (SIMAA), which was subsequently revised and rewritten. The program has supported three main types of activities: (1) economic and sector studies on topics of importance for the Afghan economy and for international assistance to Afghanistan; (2) conferences, workshops, and inter-agency teamwork on topics of interest to the assistance community (i.e. education, health, and food security); and (3) short-term training for …

To Walk The Earth In Safety 3rd Edition (Fy2001), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

The United States first became involved in humanitarian demining in 1988 when it sent a team to assess the landmine situation in Afghanistan. Five years later, U.S. demining-related programs were underway in Afghanistan and seven other countries. By the end of 2001, we will have provided more than $500 million to 38 countries, as well as the Province of Kosovo and northwest Somalia, for various humanitarian demining efforts such as deminer training, mine awareness and mine clearance, as well as orthopedic assistance to, and socioeconomic reintegration programs for, landmine accident survivors and their families. Almost $100 million of this amount …

The Five Year National Mine Action Plan (2002-2006) - Mozambique, National Demining Institute Mozambique

Global CWD Repository

Highlights the integration of mine action in development in Mozambique

Strategic Mine Action Plan (2001-2005) - Yemen, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The Government of Yemen is developing a national mine action capacity capable of planning, co-ordinating and managing all aspects of mine action activities in the country. The National Demining Committee (NDC) Chaired by the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, is the central body responsible for policy formulation, resource allocation and National Mine Action Strategy.

Handheld Metal Detectors: Nicaraguan Field Test Report October 2001, U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development

Global CWD Repository

This final technical report details the results of a joint project between the United States Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASD-SO/LIC), the US Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), the Organization of American States (OAS) (Organizacion de los Estados Americanos [OEA]), the Assistance Mission for Mine Clearance in Central America (la MisiÛn de Asistencia para la RemociÛn de Minas en CentroamÈrica, [MARMINCA]), the Program for Demining in Central America (el Programa de Apoyo al Desminado de CentroamÈrica, [PADCA]), and the Inter-American-Defense Board (IADB) (Junta Interamericana …

Aardvark Mark Iv Joint Services Flail Unit Capabilities Demonstration, U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research And Development

Global CWD Repository

The Aardvark Clear Mine, Limited (a private British company) of Scotland has been designing and producing a variety of mechanical minefield clearance machines for seventeen (17) years. The Mark IV Joint Services Flail Unit (MKIV, see picture 1 on the next page) has been in production since 1999, and it is the product of years of improvement to the Aardvark Flail System basic design. Improvements affect engine performance, flail depth, flail control, steering control, operator safety, operator comfort, navigation and maintenance. The steering control (dual steering) can be switched from the operator (in the left seat) to the operator (in …

Study Of The Socio-Economic Impact Of Mine Action In Afghanistan, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The Study of the Socio-economic Impact of Mine Action in Afghanistan (SIMAA) forms part of the World Bank/UNDP Afghanistan Watching Brief Project. The study objective is to analyse the problem of mines, the costs and benefits of mine operations and how to deal with the mine problem from an integrated socio-economic perspective. The main focus of the study is on tangible economic impacts of mine action, benefits and costs of clearing units of land of different types and the choice of demining techniques.

Report On The Review Of Unocha's Mine Action Programme For Afghanistan, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report was commissioned and funded by the Government of Japan, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, requiring for additional funds further evidence of programme impact and recommendations on the future development of the MAPA. The objectives of the review are:

1) To determine the benefit of mine action in Afghanistan to date in terms of:

• humanitarian and socio-economic impact
• technical effectiveness
• management efficiency
• political considerations
• effective, efficient and transparent use of funding

2) To recommend changes to improve the efficiency and impact of MAPA.

3) To consider options leading to …

Commercial Systems For The Direct Detection Of Explosives (For Explosive Ordnance Disposal Tasks), Claudio Bruschini

Global CWD Repository

The main goal of this study, carried out by the author on behalf of the Swiss Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), was to characterise existing technologies, and identify corresponding commercially available systems, for the direct detection of explosives for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) tasks. Systems should be able to determine if a given piece of munition contains explosives or is inert, and ideally in the former case to establish the type of explosive (see also Annex A2.1). This will be often referred to in the following as the “task at hand”, or the “task of interest to us”. Note that the …

Summary Report 910 Mechanical Clearance Device, Trar Theimer

Global CWD Repository

The MCV 910, designed for clearing surfaces is a mobile mine clearance device accredited also for the public road traffic. On the rear part it presents a special rotating 4 clearance device, hydraulically operated. The clearance takes place through the rotation movement of the flail, which should, through this action, detonate the mines. When working, the vehicle moves in the opposite direction to road movement and it can be either operated through a computerized automatic pilot steering system or manually using a joystick. The device in object, having two fixed axes, disposes of a pivot steering. The machines gets powered …

Mine Clearance By Villagers In Rural Cambodia: Spontaneous Demining Initiatives, Final Study Report, Ruth Bottomley

Global CWD Repository

This report presents the findings and conclusions of a six-month research project to investigate the occurence of mine clearance activities by villagers. The aim of the research was to provide reliable and accurate information on the subject of village mine clearance with the intention that this information could help to inform and expand the debate and perhaps suggest some viable solutions. The research was based very much on qualitative methodology. This methodology allowed the researchers to gather a more detailed, in-depth "street view" of the villages affected by mines and unexploded ordnances.

To Walk The Earth In Safety 2nd Edition (Fy1999), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

The United States first became involved in humanitarian demining in 1988 when it sent a team to assess the landmine situation in Afghanistan. Five years later, U.S. demining-related programs were underway in Afghanistan and in seven other countries. By the end of 2000, we will have provided more than $400 million to 36 countries for various humanitarian demining efforts such as deminer training,mine awareness, mine clearance, and orthopedic assistance to, and socioeconomic reintegration programs for, landmine accident survivors and their families. More than $100 million of that amount will be spent in Fiscal Year 2000, the largest commitment of any …

International Standards For Personal Protective Equipment, Alastair Mcaslan, Keith Feigenbaum

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

International Standards for Mine Action are being revised by the United Nations. As part of the revision process, a working group on personal protective equipment (WGPPE) has been established to examine the subject of safety in mine clearance operations, and to make recommendations on standards and guidelines for PPE. This paper is based on the WGPPE's report.

Hobby Deminers In Quang Tri Province, Douglas Patt

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the old days, anybody driving Highway 1 through the Vietnam central coastal regions could see neat stacks of unexploded ordnance (UXO) displayed everywhere beside the road. All the dangerous debris of past wars lay there like alien goods in storefront windows, each cairn marking the location of a scrap metal dealer. About four years ago, the Vietnamese government determined such displays inappropriate for a country moving to re-establish itself as a presence in the world community. The UXOs disappeared from view. The scrap metal dealers either removed their inventories to caches in the countryside or moved them behind screens.

The Human Touch, Russell Gasser, Terry Thomas

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Biting insects, inaccessible terrain, impenetrable bamboo thickets and thorn bushes. Mine clearance in Cambodia is a hot, sweaty business at the best of times. Because tripwires hidden in the undergrowth could trigger explosions, the vegetation has to be cleared by hand before mine detection can start. It is a tedious matter and can occupy two-thirds of a mine clearer's working day.

Ddas: Protection Needs In Humanitarian Demining, The Facts (2000), Hd-Aid

Global CWD Repository

I have approached this subject by studying the risks that deminers really face and the injuries that result, then working out how to minimise risk and protect against any residual danger. I bore in mind that there was no point is prescribing an action or a garment that would not be used. This is not an approach widely endorsed in the protective equipment industry, which apparently prefers to base its assessment of risk on experimental data and a scale of injury borrowed from the automobile industry. If the injuries commonly predicted by them were accurate, most of the accident victims …

Improved Anti-Personnel Mine Neutralization Device Test Report, Christopher Wanner

Global CWD Repository

This report describes the results and analysis of the field test of the Improved Anti Personnel Mine Neutralization Device (APMINUD). This is the second test of this equipment and follows a six month design and engineering effort on the equipment to correct and improve upon deficiencies identified in the initial version of the APMINUD.

The APMINUD is a mechanical tool designed to safely detonate antipersonnel landmines as part of a peace time clearance operation. The APMINUD consists of a mobile blast and fragment containment shell, with a mechanical striker inside. It can be used in conjunction with a shielded, all …

The Swedish Mine Fighter: The Ultimate Mine- Clearance For Anti-Personnel Mines, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

New Swede Construction AB, NSC, AB, has since 1996, developed a mechanical mine clearance machine which can operate in areas where already existing machines cannot operate. The Swedish Mine Fighter is also an environmentally friendly machine since it does not destroy the ground where it operates. In initial tests using live mines placed in the ground, all mines were either destroyed or detonated.

Mechanical Assistance Systems For Humanitarian Mine & Uxo Clearance, Roger Hess

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Removing the phrase "Mechanical Mine Clearance " from humanitarian demining terminology was an issue that gained approval from most during the Karlsruhe Conference. The amount of money spent within the last few years on systems that are now in the advanced stages of rigor mortis is staggering. Now there seems to be many questions about what is an acceptable standard for the new definition of "Mechanically Assisted Demining". In some perspectives the answer is fairly clear, but in others it is as dark as Turkish coffee.

Grab A Cup Of Coffee, Pull Up A Seat, And Have Your Credit Card Ready, Margaret S. Busé

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Shopping for mechanical mine clearance equipment? Well, check out the German Federal Foreign Office's Humanitarian Mine Action Equipment Catalog 1998/1999. The catalog showcases state of the art equipment available for mechanical mine clearance and detection.