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Full-Text Articles in Emergency and Disaster Management

Information Management System For Mine Action In Sudan, Mohammad Kabir Nov 2006

Information Management System For Mine Action In Sudan, Mohammad Kabir

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Information Management System for Mine Action is a globally used and internationally accepted database and software system that allows mine-action programmes to efficiently correlate and evaluate information. In addition, IMSMA provides powerful tools to rapidly disseminate information on hazardous areas and other important aspects of mine action by providing digital as well as printed maps and statistics.


Throwing Out Mines: The Effects Of A Flail, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson, Johannes Dirscherl, Håvard Bach Nov 2006

Throwing Out Mines: The Effects Of A Flail, Ian Mclean, Rebecca Sargisson, Johannes Dirscherl, Håvard Bach

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The authors discuss a study conducted on flail machines to prove the effectiveness of this technology in destroying anti-personnel mines.


Minewolf Flail And Tiller Machines: Testing The Differences Between Two Demining Technologies, Heinz Rath, Dieter Schröder Nov 2006

Minewolf Flail And Tiller Machines: Testing The Differences Between Two Demining Technologies, Heinz Rath, Dieter Schröder

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

MineWolf is the first demining concept, manufactured in Germany by Arthur Willibald Maschinenbau GmbH (AHWI), that overcomes the limitations of flail and tiller machines by combining the advantages of both systems. Extensive tests with live anti-tank and fragmentation mines were carried out at the German Army proving ground to determine whether the MineWolf meets the operational requirements for humanitarian demining. The aim was to discover the effects of detonations on the operator, MineWolf, clearing tools and cabin, and to work out instructions for reparability.


Itep Test And Evaluation Of Humanitarian Demining Equipment, 2006, Franciska Borry Nov 2006

Itep Test And Evaluation Of Humanitarian Demining Equipment, 2006, Franciska Borry

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The ITEP Work Plan 2006 compiles all test and evaluation activities that will be carried out during 2006 by the ITEP member countries, either as single-country activities or as ITEP collaborative efforts. The following summary provides an update on collaborative test activities initiated during 2005 and continuing in 2006, including also some of the new test and evaluation efforts envisaged.


Protection Of Soft Vehicles Against Erw, Thomas Hvidtfeldt Nov 2006

Protection Of Soft Vehicles Against Erw, Thomas Hvidtfeldt

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author discusses the challenges of protecting aid workers riding in traditional unarmoured vehicles from the dangers of explosive remnants of war. He offers some practical, after-market solutions that provide a high level of protection for much less than the cost of traditional armoured vehicles.


Explosive Remnants Of War In The Republic Of Croatia, Drazen Simunovic Nov 2006

Explosive Remnants Of War In The Republic Of Croatia, Drazen Simunovic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Explosive remnants of war represent a constant threat to normal life and activities of the population living in mine-affected areas in the Republic of Croatia. The author considers the extent and impact of unexploded ordnance and other ERW contaminating the country as a consequence of military operations between 1991 and 1995.


Visor Scratch Repair And Prevention, Andrew Heafitz, Benjamin Linder, Marta Luczynska, Mark Scott Nov 2006

Visor Scratch Repair And Prevention, Andrew Heafitz, Benjamin Linder, Marta Luczynska, Mark Scott

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Severe eye injuries occur in 30 percent of demining accidents. Visors are known to be effective personal protective equipment when worn properly, but deminers often lift or remove their visors because scratches, glare or fog make them hard to see through, or because they are hot, heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Addressing each of these specific design problems could increase visor use and prevent a significant number of debilitating injuries. This paper presents methods for preventing and eliminating scratches on demining visors.


Cluster Munitions And Erw In Lebanon, Daniele Ressler, Elizabeth Wise Nov 2006

Cluster Munitions And Erw In Lebanon, Daniele Ressler, Elizabeth Wise

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The recent 34-day conflict between the Lebanese armed faction Hezbollah and Israel from July 12 to August 14, 2006, saw extensive use of surface-launched munitions and air-dropped munitions (to a lesser degree), resulting in wartime casualties for military and civilian actors in both Lebanon and Israel. Since the ceasefire agreement, international post-conflict attention has become focused on Lebanon due to the large number of explosive remnants of war left behind after the conflict. In particular, cluster munitions are proving problematic for post-conflict reconstruction activities in Lebanon due to their apparent high failure rate and the potential threat they pose to …


Explosive Harvesting Program, Roger Hess Nov 2006

Explosive Harvesting Program, Roger Hess

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Explosive Harvesting Program is a research and development program funded by the U.S. Department of Defense Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program. The concept was designed by Golden West Humanitarian Foundation and is being jointly developed with the Cambodian Mine Action Centre.


Opening Roads To Angola’S Future, Daniela Kempf Aug 2006

Opening Roads To Angola’S Future, Daniela Kempf

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Angola’s Road Threat Reduction Project, funded by the Humpty Dumpty Institute, cleared heavily mined roads in the country’s Planalto region. The project made safe travel possible among the over 200 small communities and other bordering nations. With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and HALO Trust, HDI opened several roads for the Angolan people, creating new possibilities for the developing government.


Test And Evaluation Of Japanese Gpr-Based Ap Mine Detection Systems Mounted On Robotic Vehicles, Jun Ishikawa, Mitsuru Kiyota, Katsuhisa Furuta Aug 2006

Test And Evaluation Of Japanese Gpr-Based Ap Mine Detection Systems Mounted On Robotic Vehicles, Jun Ishikawa, Mitsuru Kiyota, Katsuhisa Furuta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article introduces Japanese activities regarding a project, “Research and Development of Sensing Technology, Access and Control Technology to Support Humanitarian Demining of AP Mines.” This project, which includes the research of six teams from academia and industry, has been funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEX T). The developed systems are equipped with both groundpenetrating radar and a metal detector, and they are designed to make no explicit alarm and to leave decision-making of detection using subsurface images to the operators. To evaluate …


Minefield As A School Ground: The Tzur Baher Minefield Clearance Project, Bentzi Telefus Aug 2006

Minefield As A School Ground: The Tzur Baher Minefield Clearance Project, Bentzi Telefus

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With so many factors limiting the education process in the Middle East, it is hard to believe that one more could be imposed upon the people of Tzur Baher, a village in Jerusalem. However, the presence of a minefield in their village severely hindered progress in the building of a school. Maavarim Civil Engineering Ltd. was brought in to begin work. The planned site for the school is now mine free, and construction is scheduled to start in the near future.


Systematic Test & Evaluation Of Metal Detectors: Interim Report Field Trials Mozambique, Dieter Guelle, Adam Lewis Aug 2006

Systematic Test & Evaluation Of Metal Detectors: Interim Report Field Trials Mozambique, Dieter Guelle, Adam Lewis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission published at the end of 2005 another interim report for the STEMD project. This article gives background on the project and report and some results and recommendations of the trial. The authors hope this article will pique interest in the full report.


Mines And Erw, Bob Kudyba Aug 2006

Mines And Erw, Bob Kudyba

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Due to the history and nature of conflicts in the Ethiopia/Eritrea area, cleanup presents specific considerations and hazards. The lessons learned by the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea Mine Action Coordination Centre in mine/explosive remnants of war cleanup are presented, as well as recommendations on clearance operations for situations with mixed mine/ ERW like that in Ethiopia and Eritrea.


Power Tillers And Snails For Demining In Sri Lanka, Emanuela Cepolina Aug 2006

Power Tillers And Snails For Demining In Sri Lanka, Emanuela Cepolina

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This paper presents a project the author has been working on since January 2005 in the context of her doctoral research and offers some of the first results. The topic concerns the participatory design and development of a distributed system for humanitarian-demining operations in Sri Lanka. The completed research is expected to encompass the relationship among landmines, humanitarian technologies and development. This article looks at the adaptation of power tillers for demining applications in Sri Lanka using a participatory design methodology called the Snail System.


Steel Wheels In Mozambique, Johan Van Zyl Feb 2006

Steel Wheels In Mozambique, Johan Van Zyl

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This down-in-the-trenches story about using a Casspir fitted with steel wheels to demine in Mozambique in the early 1990s makes you feel like you are right there. Getting rid of the mines was not the only problem the deminers had; sometimes getting past the insurgents was more challenging.


Where Technology And Field Information Meet: The Metal Detector Handbook, Dieter Guelle, Andy Smith, A.M. Lewis, T.J. Bloodworth Jun 2004

Where Technology And Field Information Meet: The Metal Detector Handbook, Dieter Guelle, Andy Smith, A.M. Lewis, T.J. Bloodworth

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Metal Detector Handbook for Humanitarian Demining explains what all operators need to know about modern metal detectors. If trying to test, select or simply use a detector to its optimal ability, this handbook will show the user exactly what is needed. The handbook is in pocket A5 format and is resistant to field use.


The Minewolf Toolbox System: Ground Preparation To Mine Clearance, Heinz Rath Oct 2003

The Minewolf Toolbox System: Ground Preparation To Mine Clearance, Heinz Rath

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The MineWolf Toolbox System, which operates in minefields near Sarajevo, is a mine clearance device that has been used to improve efficiency and effectiveness in demining operations. This article discusses the benefits of the MineWolf Toolbox System and compares it to other demining machines and technology currently used to clear minefields.


Using Bomb Disrupters In Demining Operations, Jennifer Cox Oct 2003

Using Bomb Disrupters In Demining Operations, Jennifer Cox

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The use of bomb disrupters has substantially impacted the demining community from the time of their invention to the present. Proparms Ltd., a world leader in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) manufacturing, is making headway with its products, which will help continue along the path of landmine casualty reduction.


Systematic Test & Evaluation Of Metal Detectors, Noel Mulliner, Phil Bean, Francois Littmann Oct 2003

Systematic Test & Evaluation Of Metal Detectors, Noel Mulliner, Phil Bean, Francois Littmann

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Up-to-date and accurate information on available technology is urgently needed to help Mine Action Centres (MACs) and donors in the planning of demining activities and in the selection of the best-suited type of demining equipment. For this reason, the European Commission (EC) is starting a project to evaluate the performance of metal detectors on the market today.


Decision Support System For Demining Waterways, Nenad Mladineo, Snjezana Knezic Oct 2003

Decision Support System For Demining Waterways, Nenad Mladineo, Snjezana Knezic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the beginning of 2002, Croatian Waters, a state water management system, gave the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University of Split a project with the main objective of determining the optimal strategy for demining waterways by using contemporary scientific methods and tools.


Mechanical Application In Demining: Modernising Clearance Methods, Alexander Griffiths, Leonard Kaminsky Oct 2003

Mechanical Application In Demining: Modernising Clearance Methods, Alexander Griffiths, Leonard Kaminsky

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Even as mechanical mine clearance systems are increasingly employed throughout the world, the full potential of these machines remains to be seen. Further study of the issue has prompted the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) to release the “Study of Mechanical Application in Mine Action,” due in December 2003.


Testing And Use Of Demining Machines In The Republic Of Croatia, Ivan Steker Oct 2003

Testing And Use Of Demining Machines In The Republic Of Croatia, Ivan Steker

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In the course of achieving the quality employment of machines and their development, CROMAC is conducting the activities of testing, verification and accreditation of demining machines.


Locating Landmines And Uxo: A Methodological Lesson From The Ethiopian Landmine Impact Survey, Michael Fleisher Aug 2002

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.


International Standards For Personal Protective Equipment, Alastair Mcaslan, Keith Feigenbaum Jun 2000

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.


The Human Touch, Russell Gasser, Terry Thomas Jun 2000

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.


The Swedish Mine Fighter: The Ultimate Mine- Clearance For Anti-Personnel Mines, Cisr Journal Jun 1999

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 Jun 1999

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 Jun 1999

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.


Body Protection Systems For Use In Humanitarian Demining: Applying Hard Science And End-User Feedback To Improve Personal Protection For Deminers, Richard L'Abbe, Aris Makris, Derrick Poon Young Jun 1999

Body Protection Systems For Use In Humanitarian Demining: Applying Hard Science And End-User Feedback To Improve Personal Protection For Deminers, Richard L'Abbe, Aris Makris, Derrick Poon Young

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Somewhere between the tightening budgets of program managers, myriad of demining activities, and fatigue among donors, lies a life-threatening issue which receives limited attention within the hierarchy of themes defining humanitarian demining. According to a large cross-section of deminers around the world, personal protection for deminers is considered a poor second cousin to such themes as mine awareness and victim assistance. They say the issue of improving personal protection needs to be pushed higher up the demining agenda.