Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

First Steps To Limiting Conflict Pollution In Central Vietnam, Allan R. Vosburgh

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Awareness and concern are growing worldwide regarding pollution resulting from conflicts. In Vietnam, decades of wars have left a legacy of contaminated land and increasingly polluted water. Golden West Humanitarian Foundation (Golden West) believes future success in eliminating explosive remnants of war (ERW) will depend on highly-skilled, dedicated Vietnamese technicians who can apply training, tools, and techniques that mitigate ERW without unnecessarily adding new contaminants to the environment. Open detonations always contribute steel fragments and particles of explosive residue in the ground along with smoke and detonation products in the air. Golden West is helping to develop facilities, technology, and …

The Elusive “Just Enough”: Re-Inventing Explosive Hazard Clearance Management In Iraq, Mark Wilkinson Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Government of Iraq viewed rehabilitation of infrastructure contaminated with explosives during the conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as a prereqisite to socioeconomic recovery and political stability, which, in turn, established a need for the mine action community to deploy qualified, certified clearance teams as quickly as possible. While these teams could deploy quickly, their reliance on international staff and their associated costs attributable to security and other factors introduced a high overhead business model that became an accepted standard during a first clearance phase from 2015 to 2019, despite the understanding that this …

Measuring Explosive Munitions Use With Open-Source Data: A New Tool For Enhancing Humanitarian Mine Action, Jonathan Robinson, Christoph Baade

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2011, there has been widespread use of explosive weapons—including conventional weapons, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and landmines—by all sides in the Syrian conflict.¹ As is known from other contexts, a proportion of these either fail to detonate, becoming unexploded ordnance (UXO), or are abandoned by combatants to become abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO).² Long after conflicts have ended, these explosive remnants of war (ERW) endure as multi-generational threats to a community’s population and future development.³

Managing Risk Through Transparency And Cooperation: Improving Lebanon’S Pssm Capacity, Jamie Mcghee

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Weapons and ammunition management (WAM) is a global issue in which nations are responsible for the physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) of weapons and ammunition to help mitigate weapons diversion and proliferation, and to prevent against an unplanned explosions at munitions sites (UEMS). Although in most instances preventable, UEMS incidents have increased, leading to significant loss of life, life-changing injuries to innocent civilians, and damage to property.¹

Remote Sensing And Artificial Intelligence In The Mine Action Sector, Martin Jebens, Rob White

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Remote sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are included in discussions of how technology and innovation can improve humanitarian action and international peacekeeping. These technologies have the potential to improve the capacity to assess needs and to monitor changes on the ground and can be useful for both the mine action (MA) and broader humanitarian sectors. Even though remote sensing and AI are not the silver bullet in MA and come with several challenges (e.g., operational and data protection), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) believe that the integration …

How To Implement Drones And Machine Learning To Reduce Time, Costs, And Dangers Associated With Landmine Detection, Jasper Baur, Gabriel Steinberg, Alex Nikulin Ph.D., Kenneth Chiu Ph.D., Timothy De Smet Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Two rapidly emerging technologies revolutionizing scientific problem solving are unpiloted aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, and deep learning algorithms.¹ Our study combines these two technologies to provide a powerful auxiliary tool for scatterable landmine detection. These munitions are traditionally challenging for clearance operations due to their wide area of impact upon deployment, small size, and random minefield orientation. Our past work focused on developing a reliable UAS capable of detecting and identifying individual elements of PFM-1 minefields to rapidly assess wide areas for landmine contamination, minefield orientation, and possible minefield overlap. In our most recent proof-of-concept …

Assisting Landmine Survivors In Yemen, Elise Becker, Tamara Klingsheim

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the past ten years, the Marshall Legacy Institute’s (MLI) Mine Victim’s Assistance Program (MVA) in Yemen has helped over 800 male, female, and child landmine survivors in Yemen. MLI and our in-country program partner have worked to identify survivors and provide them with the assistance they require, including prosthetic services, vocational training, and self-employment opportunities, to improve their lives and increase their prospects for a brighter future.

Key Performance Indicators (Kpis) For Land Release And Stockpile Destruction Operations—Notes On A New Technical Note For Mine Action, Roly Evans, David Hewitson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In March 2021 the International Mine Action Standards Review Board (IMAS RB) adopted by consensus a new Technical Note for Mine Action (TNMA): Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Land Release and Stockpile Destruction Operations.¹ The TNMA detailed new Common Counting Rules for land release outputs, identified elements of Context Capture at points of data entry and underlined the need for operational staff to prioritize the collection of relevant good quality data. The purpose of this article is to set out why the TNMA was developed and explain certain aspects of its content, particularly those where prolonged debate was necessary in …

Issue 25.1 Endnotes, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Issue 25.1 Endnotes

Operationalized Management Information Systems In Iraq's Dma, Mark Steyn, Arie Claassens

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The perception of management information systems (MIS) often conjures up images of highly-technical tools requiring arcane development practices and data preparation rituals, but a simple solution providing easy access to the relevant data delivers a bigger impact than a highly technical tool gathering dust. The Iraq National Mine Action Authority has implemented an MIS application for use in the office and field to improve decision-making processes’ speed and quality.

Improving Security In The Drc Through Weapons And Ammunition Management, Beamie-Moses Seiwoh, Aurelie Fabry, Edison Pineda, Grégoire De Nantes

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The resurgence of armed conflict since 1996 has displaced thousands across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and resulted in proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SA/LW), which remains a serious concern. The diversion of SA/LW and ammunition from state-owned stockpiles is linked to poor or insufficient weapons and ammunition management (WAM) capacity, practices, and procedures, and has been identified as a major cause of illicit arms and ammunition proliferation in the DRC. The trafficking, accumulation, and misuse of SA/LW and related ammunition pose a systemic and pervasive threat to peacebuilding and hampers long-term socioeconomic development. …

A Note From The Interim Director, Suzanne Fiederlein Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

Time To Stem Lightweight Approaches And Focus On Real Minefield Data?, John Fardoulis, Xavier Depreytere

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While preparing for airborne IR thermography fieldwork as part of the Odyssey2025 Project between Humanity & Inclusion and Mobility Robotics in Chad, a comprehensive literature study was conducted by the authors From the literature reviewed, the authors identified a disconnect between thermography-related research projects and practical, real-world HMA operations. The importance of real fieldwork, the significance of undergoing a literature review before starting your own research, and the need for researchers to work in conjunction with HMA operators are all essential, not only to those working in HMA, but more importantly, to the post-conflict communities the sector strives to help.

Mine Action In The Time Of Covid-19: A Donor's Perspective, Wolfgang Bindseil, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the beginning of humanitarian mine action (HMA) in the late 1980s, the sector has relied heavily on donor support. The funding is provided through various channels and covers the full range of HMA activities, including risk education, survey and clearance, stockpile destruction, victim assistance, advocacy, capacity building, and coordination. Over the years, donors have also influenced the HMA sector in more ways than by just providing money. For example, MASG members have called for the development of common sector-wide standards (e.g., International Mine Action Standards), hosted technical workshops and training activities, and actively participated in international and national level …

On-The-Ground Information Management Tools In Northeast Syria, Suleiman Nyamwaya, Joel Ndegwa

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Beginning in early 2017, clearance activities in northeast Syria have been carried out primarily by NGOs. Initially, clearance was focused on agricultural land, but other critical infrastructure such as education, shelter, and electricity followed suit over time. Toward the end of 2017, iMMAP began providing coordination support to humanitarian mine action actors through the application of the Information Management System for Mine Action.

The Mine Free Sarajevo Project, Marija Trlin, Elise Becker, Nataša Uršič

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Mine Free Sarajevo is a US-funded project aiming to clear more than six million square meters of mine-suspected and mine-contaminated land in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and surrounding municipalities. The project utilizes land release methodology, a cost-effective and safe way to release large areas by combining technical and non-technical survey methods. Upon completion of the project, the Sarajevo region will finally become mine-free and safe for the local population. This will enable social and economic growth and the development of many infrastructure projects that have been on hold for years.

The Journal Of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Issue 24.2 (2020), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

• Editorial: HMA and COVID-19: A Donor's Perspective
• Editorial: Time To Focus on Real Minefield Data
• Mine Action Information Management in Iraq and Northeast Syria
• IMAS 10.60 Update: Investigation and Reporting of Accidents and Incidents
• The Mine Free Sarajevo Project
• SALW in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the DRC
• Gender and Diversity in Mine Action
• Victim Assistance in Ukraine
• Landmines in the American Civil War
• Risk Education in Colombia
• R&D: The Odyssey2025 Project

Weapons Marking And Registration In Bosnia And Herzegovina: A Model For A Regional Approach To Salw Life-Cycle Management In The Western Balkans, Mike Newton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans and their diversion from state-owned stockpiles is a driver of armed violence. The HALO Trust has been working in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2017 in support of the Franco-German Initiative for the Western Balkans. By collaborating with the Bosnian armed forces, the European Force in Bosnia and the UK-based marking company, Pryor Marking, HALO has found a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the problem of illicit SALW in the Western Balkans.

Landmines In America's Backyard, Ken Rutherford Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Few realize the world’s first widespread deployment of landmines took place during the American Civil War (1860–1865). At the start of the war, the disparity in military manpower, materiel, and weaponry between the North and South was significant. The gap widened in the Union’s favor as the war progressed, forcing the Confederate war industry to innovate and improvise. As the conflict progressed, landmine warfare advanced commensurately, and both tactics and technology evolved to include innovative types of design and deployment. During the war’s later years, Confederate soldiers used both command-detonated and victim-activated landmines more frequently to defend and to protect …

Strengthening A Sustainable National Capacity For Gender And Diversity Mainstreaming In Mine Action, Laura Biscaglia, Ros Sophal, Khun Sochenda

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

There have been many positive developments in recent years in relation to promoting gender equality and inclusion in mine action. At the same time, some challenges remain, such as the lack of a gender and diversity mainstreaming capacity with clear roles and responsibilities in some mine action institutions and organizations. To reinforce positive achievements and strengthen gender and diversity mainstreaming capacity among national mine action authorities/centers (NMAA/Cs) and operators around the world, in 2019 the GICHD developed the flagship Gender Focal Point Capacity Development Programme. Through the achievements of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) and Norwegian …

Assessing Ukraine's Victim Assistance Capacities, Kateryna Mashchenko, Tetiana Shymanchuk, Oleh Stoiev, Nick Vovk

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Six years into the protracted crisis, explosive ordnance (EO) contamination continues to affect Ukrainian communities. Consequent to the conflict between the government of Ukraine and the so-called de facto authorities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, EO affects an estimated 7,000 square kilometers of land in government-controlled areas (GCAs). Even without complete data from the non-government-controlled areas (NGCAs), Ukraine ranks among the five most affected places in the world for EO casualties. But for EO victims the path forward remains fraught with difficulties. According to the International Mine Action Standards, victim assistance (VA) requires a long-term commitment, a responsibility that …

Proof: How Small Drones Can Find Buried Landmines In The Desert Using Airborne Ir Thermography, John Fardoulis, Xavier Depreytere, Pierre Gallien, Kheria Djouhri, Ba Abdourhmane, Emmanuel Sauvage

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Hypotheses and speculation have circulated for at least three decades regarding how IR thermography could be viable as a technique for locating buried landmines in arid environments. However, there has been a lack of proof under actual field conditions. Addressing many overall questions regarding small drones in HMA, the Odyssey2025 Project—led by HI and Mobility Robotics— closely collaborated with the national mine action center in Chad, the Haut Commissariat National au Déminage (HCND), to complete activities and objectives. As part of a holistic approach, the primary objective was to determine how small drones could add value in HMA field operations …

24.2 Endnotes, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

Explosive Ordnance Victims And Risk Education: Lessons Learned From Colombia 2012-2019, Salomé Valencia, Angela Desantis, Matt Wilson, Sebastián Tovar Jaramillo, Angela Patricia Cortés Sánchez, Ana Jaquelin Jaimes Alfonso

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Colombia, the use of anti-personnel mines is the result of more than sixty years of armed conflict. The Office of the High Commissioner for Peace - Descontamina Colombia (OACP-DC), the current national mine action authority in Colombia, recorded 11,828 explosive ordnance (EO) victims between 1985 and 2019. Furthermore, Colombia is one of nine countries where new anti-personnel mines are still being emplaced by non-state armed groups, which presents a challenge for the mine action sector. The aim of explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) is to reduce the risk of accidents by raising awareness and promoting safe behavior among EO-affected …

International Mine Action Standard 10.60 Safety & Occupational Health - Investigation And Reporting Of Accidents And Incidents: Notes On The Revised Second Edition, Roly Evans

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 2019, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) received permission from the International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) Review Board (RB) to update IMAS 10.60, Safety & occupational health – Investigation and reporting of accidents and incidents. The first edition of the document, originally drafted in October 2001, was last amended in June 2013. The second edition was published in 2020. This article covers some of the key improvements made in the second edition, such as a new emphasis on evidence, a simplified reporting sequence, the introduction of causal analysis, revised independence of investigation levels, introduction of near miss …

The Lethality Index: Re-Conceptualizing Ied Clearance Planning And Delivery In Iraq, Mark Wilkinson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Explosive hazard clearance (EH) comes at a cost and, logically, with accountability expected as a quid pro quo both for those conducting and those funding clearance activities.[i] Today’s accountability problem arguably begins with the recognition that EH clearance, particularly in complex environments contaminated with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), differs radically from conventional mine action operations of the past, introducing various new factors that influence costs and cost-effectiveness. This, in turn, begs two questions: “What factors?” and “How are they measured?” Hence, before the mine action community can evaluate cost-effectiveness leading to accountability, it must first re-conceptualize clearance itself based …

Automated Uas Aeromagnetic Surveys To Detect Mbrl Unexploded Ordnance, Alex Nikulin, Ph.D., Timothy Desmet, Ph.D., Andrii Puliaiev, Vasyl Zhurakhov, Sofia Fasullo, Gabriel Chen, Isaac Spiegel, Kaylee Cappuccio

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Unguided Multiple Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) systems are limited-accuracy, high-impact artillery systems meant to deliver barrages of explosive warheads across a wide area of attack. High rates of failure of MBRL rockets on impact and their wide area of ballistic dispersion result in a long-term unexploded ordnance (UXO) concern across large areas where these systems have been deployed. We field tested a newly-developed UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)-based aeromagnetic platform to remotely detect and identify unexploded 122 mm rockets of the widely-used BM-21 MBRL. We developed an algorithm that allows near real-time analysis, mapping, and interpretations of magnetic datasets in the …

From The Interim Director, Suzanne Fiederlein, Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

We are living in uncertain times as we face an unprecedented global health crisis. In keeping with the tradition of adaptation and creativity in the mine action community, we have read numerous examples of national clearance programs and implementing partner organizations adjusting operations in order to continue survey, clearance, and risk education work in line with required COVID-19 restrictions. As some places begin to resume a greater range of activity, we recognize the threat presented by this new virus remains pronounced, and we wish all of you safety in your daily lives and good health.

Whither Hma Policy: Linking Hma And Development Assistance, Lewis Rasmussen, Ph.D.

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 1988 The HALO Trust was credited with coining the term “humanitarian demining” as it differentiated military demining in Afghanistan from efforts designed specifically to reduce the ongoing threat to civilians, livelihoods, communities, and public infrastructure in terms of post-war reconstruction. Since then, many donor governments began to shift policy and programming to reflect this distinction. As but one example, the U.S. established an inter-agency Humanitarian Demining Program in 1993, which included the Agency for International Develop (USAID). Unfortunately, for many years the demining and development assistance communities proceeded more along parallel tracks, acknowledging each other and vectoring off to …

Disposal Of Explosive Ordnance And Environmental Risk Mitigation, Roly Evans, Andy Duncan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian mine action (HMA) survey and clearance operations have always focused on the contamination that can be seen. Whether it is anti-personnel (AP) mines, anti-vehicles (AV) mines, or explosive remnants of war (ERW), our efforts focus on removing items that pose an immediate blast and fragmentation hazard to humans. However, in certain circumstances, explosive ordnance (EO) also poses a significant environmental hazard, not least from the toxicity of its components, such as heavy metals and explosives. The understanding of contamination from EO in air, soil, and water has developed significantly in recent decades.[i] ^{[ii] [iii] [iv]} This has mainly …