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Articles 31 - 60 of 101
Full-Text Articles in Emergency and Disaster Management
Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case
Comprehensive Action Against Anti-Personnel Mines: A Regional Initiative To Address Landmine Issues, Carl Case
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
For more than 18 years, the Organization of American States has had a leading role in the struggle to deal with humanitarian-demining issues in South and Central America. Since the inception of the Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal programs, the OAS has been involved in many aspects of mine action, bringing new hope to the region.
Impact Study On The Effects Of Demining Operations In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco
Impact Study On The Effects Of Demining Operations In Nicaragua, Carlos Orozco
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
To evaluate demining operations in Nicaragua, the Acción Integral contra las Minas Antipersonal program conducted a study on the effects of demining in communities directly affected by landmines. The study showed both the negative effects of anti-personnel mines and the consequences they had on the community, but and also the positive effects that demining had in terms of security, trust and economic benefits.
New Uxo Detector With Metal-Discrimination Option, Jürgen Braunstein, Armin Merz, Markus Sautter, Gerhard Vallon
New Uxo Detector With Metal-Discrimination Option, Jürgen Braunstein, Armin Merz, Markus Sautter, Gerhard Vallon
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
A forerunner in the field of metal detection, Vallon GmbH has recently developed the VMXC1—an unexploded-ordnance detector specifically designed to determine the presence of submunitions. The detector’ innovative metal-discrimination option allows for fewer false alarms during UXO clearance. Field results of the new detector are discussed below.
Testing The Effectiveness And Survivability Of The Mini Minewolf, Thomas Sponfeldner
Testing The Effectiveness And Survivability Of The Mini Minewolf, Thomas Sponfeldner
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The following test results illustrate the Mini MineWolf’s viability in the field. First, Mini MineWolf’s ability to neutralize simulated anti-personnel mines was tested in three different soil types and at varying depths. The machine was then subjected to live anti-tank blasts by the German Army and the Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies.
Erw And Survivor Assistance In Central Vietnam, Ari Perlstein, Imbert Matthee
Erw And Survivor Assistance In Central Vietnam, Ari Perlstein, Imbert Matthee
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In central Vietnam, the problem of unexploded ordnance and landmine contamination is still particularly serious, and casualty rates continue to be high in certain areas. The following is an overview of Clear Path International’s activities in the region, and includes an analysis of the most recent data collected about explosive remnants of war incidents.
Total Quality Management In Mine Action, Daniel Eriksson
Total Quality Management In Mine Action, Daniel Eriksson
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Here the author relays the relationship between information management and quality management and how the latter depends on the efficiency of the former. With increasingly better tools for mine-action programs in the field of information management, such as the new versions of the Information Management System for Mine Action, the author discusses how mine action will move into a new age of information technology that will allow for better proficiency in the field.
The Halo Trust And Hstamids, Chris Boshoff, Roger Cresci
The Halo Trust And Hstamids, Chris Boshoff, Roger Cresci
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
A technology that employs multiple mine-detection techniques could improve demining around the world. Six months of using this product on-site have shown exciting results. Benefits of using this demining tool include increased effectiveness, speed and safety. This device was initially manufactured and used for military purposes only. The process of making it available to non-military organizations was difficult but successful.
Improved Landmine Discrimination With An Off-The-Shelf Metal Detector, Marc Freese, Edwardo Fukushima, Shigeo Hirose
Improved Landmine Discrimination With An Off-The-Shelf Metal Detector, Marc Freese, Edwardo Fukushima, Shigeo Hirose
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
While a lot of improvement has been achieved with metal detectors in detection depth and ground rejection, little effort has been directed toward better discrimination capabilities; high false-positive rates not only increase clearance time, they tend to lower deminer vigilance, causing accidents. The authors have modeled a statically operating, off-the-shelf metal detector by generating volumetric sensitivity profiles. They present in-laboratory measurements and results of experiments on a test demining site in Cambodia. This article aims at giving deminers a more informed view of metallic targets, allowing them to take differentiated actions during target identification and removal.
Iraq Facing The Legacy Of Landmines And Explosive Remnants Of War, Salomon Schreuder
Iraq Facing The Legacy Of Landmines And Explosive Remnants Of War, Salomon Schreuder
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In this article the author describes the recent history and current state of mine-action efforts in Iraq. The author argues for a larger focus on these issues and for a comprehensive approach, linking other humanitarian efforts with mine action.
Intelligent Robotic Behaviors For Landmine Detection And Marking, David Bremmer, David Few, Curtis Nielsen, Miles Walton
Intelligent Robotic Behaviors For Landmine Detection And Marking, David Bremmer, David Few, Curtis Nielsen, Miles Walton
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article discusses experimental results achieved with a robotic countermine system that utilizes autonomous behaviors and a mixed-initiative control scheme to address the challenges of detecting and marking buried landmines. By correlating aerial imagery and ground-based robot mapping, the interface provides context for the operator to task the robot. Once tasked, the robot can perform the search and detection task without the use of accurate global positioning system information or continuous communication with the operator. Results show that the system was able to find and mark landmines with a very low level of human involvement. In addition, the data indicates …
Lessons Learned From Field Tests In Croatia And Cambodia, Paulo Debenest, Marc Freese, Edwardo Fukushima, Toshiaki Matsuzawa, Shigeo Hirose
Lessons Learned From Field Tests In Croatia And Cambodia, Paulo Debenest, Marc Freese, Edwardo Fukushima, Toshiaki Matsuzawa, Shigeo Hirose
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article describes the development and the experiments performed with Gryphon, a new platform for tele-operated landmine detection. With Gryphon, the authors aim at reducing the gap between research and application by introducing partial autonomy in mine-detection operations with a robust platform. Tests have been performed in Croatia and Cambodia.
Jordan: Safeguarding Life And Promoting Development, Esma Al-Samarai, Stephen Bryant
Jordan: Safeguarding Life And Promoting Development, Esma Al-Samarai, Stephen Bryant
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Jordan signed the Ottawa Convention in 1999 and is working to comply with the regulations by the May 2009 deadline. Jordan has enlisted Norwegian People's Aid to help the Royal Engineering Corps meet its deadline. Surveys have been completed and suspected hazardous areas have been significantly reduced. NPA is continuing to demine areas with the help of mine-detecting dogs and a MineWolf machine. The overall goal is to clear the land to allow agriculture and industry to return to areas currently inaccessible due to the threat of landmines.
As Mines Grow Old, Colin King
As Mines Grow Old, Colin King
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In most cases, the mines being cleared around the world were emplaced decades ago; yet the techniques and equipment being used during clearance treat them as though they were new. The author looks briefly at the effects of ageing on mines and considers possible implications.
Demichain: A New Concept Of Mechanical Demining, Rene Joeckle
Demichain: A New Concept Of Mechanical Demining, Rene Joeckle
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
DEMICHAIN is a new concept for mechanical demining, in which a horizontal web of heavy chains hung several metres above a surface to be cleared is dropped in a free fall and delivers a mechanical impulse over the whole surface hit by the chains. A pressure wave expands in the soil and is expected to trigger the active landmines. A description of the device is given, as well as comparisons to other demining devices. The author offers that DEMICHAIN provides numerous advantages to current mechanical-demining techniques, though it requires further testing before it can be used in real-life situations.
Humanitarian Impact Evaluation: Battlefield Area Clearance In South Lebanon, Aneeza Pasha
Humanitarian Impact Evaluation: Battlefield Area Clearance In South Lebanon, Aneeza Pasha
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
After the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Handicap International sent battlefield-area clearance teams to South Lebanon to help clear the land of unexploded ordnance and other explosive remnants of war. This article is a report of the impact on the civilian population due to the conflict and the impact of the cleanup efforts by HI. It aims to provide narrative and statistical data to demonstrate the humanitarian impact of Handicap International’s BAC efforts in South Lebanon from December 2006 to December 2007.
Gis Technology Helps Rid Southeast Asia Of Landmines And Uxo, Carla Wheeler
Gis Technology Helps Rid Southeast Asia Of Landmines And Uxo, Carla Wheeler
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Southeast Asia remains one of the most heavily mined regions in the world. Cambodia, which has a 2009 deadline for the Ottawa Convention, has requested a deadline extension because it will be impossible to meet its clearance obligations by then. The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority is being aided by software from ESRI, which is used to create databases, maps and charts to record the location of mines and unexploded ordnance. This information is used to more effectively locate and demine contaminated areas. As Cambodia’s population increases, it is becoming more critical to clear the land of mines.
Gender In Community Consultations, Hilde Vandeskog Wallacher
Gender In Community Consultations, Hilde Vandeskog Wallacher
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Landmine removal within Cambodia has been an important, unsolved problem for many years. This article focuses on mine-action strategies for gender mainstreaming in the community consultations carried out in rural, mine-affected areas in Cambodia.
Mechanical Demining: From 1942 To The Present, Pehr Lodhammar
Mechanical Demining: From 1942 To The Present, Pehr Lodhammar
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Although demining machines have been in existence since 1942, they were not used in the field of mine action until about the early 1990s. Demining machines were initially only used by the military. With the growing number of casualties stemming from landmines, especially among civilians, it became necessary to employ machines for humanitarian purposes. From the first demining machine constructed in early 1942 to the present, tremendous improvements have been made.
The Gichd Land Release Project, Tim Lardner
The Gichd Land Release Project, Tim Lardner
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In the past, inconsistent and inefficient methods of identifying and clearing mines and unexploded ordnance have wasted precious demining resources and left affected areas contaminated. In 2006, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Deming recognized the need for a more effective land-release process in the international mine-action community and subsequently developed the Land Release Project.
Mixing It Up: The Rotary Mine Comb, Chris Wanner
Mixing It Up: The Rotary Mine Comb, Chris Wanner
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Rotary Mine Comb has been put to the test on Angola’s most dangerous stretch of road. In the province of Cuando Cubango, The HALO Trust has deployed the vehicle-based RMC system with impressive results. This article assesses the system’s features and minimal-metal anti-tank mine-clearance capabilities in the field.
Cluster Munitions Monitoring And Information Campaign In Azerbaijan, Hafiz Safikhanov
Cluster Munitions Monitoring And Information Campaign In Azerbaijan, Hafiz Safikhanov
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article describes the initiatives undertaken by the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines to confront the threat of cluster munitions in the country. Since the publication of its report in January of 2008, AzCBL has continued to lobby the government of Azerbaijan to ban the use of cluster munitions.
An African Perspective On The Cluster Munitions Convention, Sheila Mweemba
An African Perspective On The Cluster Munitions Convention, Sheila Mweemba
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
On 30 May 2008, the international community adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It is little wonder that those who were against a convention of this sort are still reeling from the shock of it. Africa, on the other hand, can give itself a well-deserved pat on the back for having played a pivotal role in the adoption of a groundbreaking, legally-binding instrument of which posterity will judge the results.
Humanitarian Mine Clearance In The Balkans, Christoph Frehsee
Humanitarian Mine Clearance In The Balkans, Christoph Frehsee
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The following article describes the development of the new Mini MineWolf mine-clearing machine. The machine is remote-controlled and allows for clearance without risking the lives of deminers. With successful results in Balkan countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, the new Mini MineWolf has proven itself to be reliable tool in helping clear the region of landmines.
Angola Lis: Guidelines For Using Lis Results In Mine Action Annual Planning, Charles Downs
Angola Lis: Guidelines For Using Lis Results In Mine Action Annual Planning, Charles Downs
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Survey Action Center and Comissâo Nacional Intersectorial de Desminagem e Assistência Humanitária carried out the Angola Landmine Impact Survey. In July 2006, SAC sent the author on the first of three planned missions to Angola as Technical Advisor for the completion of the LIS. This article explains the Provisional Provincial Reports, which contain a section of guidelines on the use of LIS results for operational planning. The National Mine Action Strategy for Angola was developed based on interim LIS results, and the detailed data supporting those results are made freely available to all interested parties.
Low-Level Ordnance Neutralization Using The Asld System™, Floyd Artrip
Low-Level Ordnance Neutralization Using The Asld System™, Floyd Artrip
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article outlines the benefits of using a new system of low-level mine neutralization. Some of the advantages of the A-Systems Landmine Destroyer System include effectiveness, easy transport, safety and minimal damage to environment. The author gives an overview of the System, describing its components, processes and field results.
Using The Mineburner System On Cluster Submunitions, Robert Keeley
Using The Mineburner System On Cluster Submunitions, Robert Keeley
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
This article is a summary of the findings of the mission carried out by RK Consulting Ltd. on behalf of Norwegian People's Aid Lebanon to determine the potential ability of the MineBurner system to destroy cluster submunitions safely.
Safe And Efficient Use Of Mine Dogs In The Republic Of Croatia, Mirko Ivanušić, Davor Laura, Željko Šarić
Safe And Efficient Use Of Mine Dogs In The Republic Of Croatia, Mirko Ivanušić, Davor Laura, Željko Šarić
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
In this article, the authors discuss the use of mine-detecting dogs in the mine-action community as a whole, using the Republic of Croatia as an example. Specifically, they describe guidelines that must be followed to ensure MDDs are employed properly and maintain a high level of effectiveness.
Cen Workshop Agreements For Test And Evaluation Of Humanitarian Demining Equipment, Franciska Borry
Cen Workshop Agreements For Test And Evaluation Of Humanitarian Demining Equipment, Franciska Borry
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
The Comité Européen de Normalisation has organised workshops to aid the establishment of standard methodologies for demining. This article discusses the workshops and the agreements reached in those workshops. The author includes a list of contacts for additional information on demining equipment and methods.
Increasing The Impact Of Mine-Action Surveys, Charles Downs
Increasing The Impact Of Mine-Action Surveys, Charles Downs
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
While mine-action surveys are an important tool in mine clearance, there are several challenges that must be overcome for survey results to be fully effective. Some of these changes include alterations in priority setting, information management and impact scoring. This article presents some potential obstacles to completing and evaluating mine-action surveys and proposes possible solutions to these challenges to increase their effectiveness and impact.
Finally, Safe Demining, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá
Finally, Safe Demining, Vinicius Souza, Maria Eugênia Sá
The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction
Following a series of mistakes that caused hundreds of accidents—many fatal—a new battalion of the National Police of Peru now ensures demining quality for 1,711 power transmission towers.