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Humanitarian Demining: the Problem, Difficulties, Priorities, Demining Technology and the Challenge for Robotics 51 maintenance, spare parts and its availability are critical parameters too. While current technology may be slightly effective, it is far too limited to fully address the huge mine problem facing the world. Finally, today’s companies are not ready financially of doing long term research and development for humanitarian demining, simply because it does not turn a fast profit and as such there should be a recognized contributions from the developed countries and international organizations to support humanitarian demining efforts. References Acheroy, M. (2005). Spaceborne and Airborne Mined Area Reduction Tools. Workshop on Inventory and analysis of operationally validated results related to mine action space and airborne surveys, Zagreb, Croatia, Scientific Council of CROMAC. Arikawa, K. & Hirose, S. (1996). 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In Proceedings of the 6 th Annual Intelligent Vehicle Systems Symposium & Exhibition, Michigan, June 2006. 2 Research Challenges James Trevelyan The University of Western Australia Australia 1. Introduction Initial Approach Research is seldom linear. Often the objective is further than first expected. It can be like an unclimbed mountain peak, standing clear in a blue sky that seems just a short climb from the base camp. Yet as one climbs each ridge, only to find one has to descend another hidden defile to reach the next, the summit seems to recede into the distance, and may even be out of sight much of the time. One constantly changes direction. Precipices reshape strategy: obstacles that force new approach routes so obvious in hindsight. What seemed to be the summit at first turns out later to be only a shoulder on the mountain hiding a higher summit from view. Sheer faces and overhangs divert those seeking technical climbing challenges from the more distant summit. Early climbers may run short of supplies or endurance and give up, but may write their accounts and leave maps to guide others. They will have improved their climbing techniques and may go on climb other peaks. This analogy captures my own path through demining research. My research would not have been possible without the support of many colleagues and students and the support of organizations in Australia, USA, Pakistan and Afghanistan. 1995 brought a chance meeting with Gen. John Sanderson, then Australian Chief of General Staff who had commanded the 1993 UN mission in Cambodia. He encouraged me to see if robotics could help with landmine clearance, perhaps a slightly easier challenge than shearing sheep had been (Trevelyan 1992). He opened doors to Australian military expertise evolved from experience in Cambodia and other UN peacekeeping operations. With students I developed a suspended cable concept (Trevelyan 1996) but a visit to Pakistan forced a reality check. I came into contact with Australians working with UN mine clearance teams in Afghanistan who described apparently simple problems with heavy helmets and primitive tools for investigating metal detector indications. They also provided a detailed description of working conditions in Afghanistan which ruled out the naïve ideas developed in Australia. I had to revise my approach route. Robotic solutions ultimately depend on mobility on the one hand, and sensing capabilities that offer a more efficient solution than brute force (Trevelyan 1997b). Resolving the sensing problem presented a triple obstacle: (a) intrinsic performance challenges associated with either low detection probability or high false alarm rate or both, (b) the likely cost which would influence the economic viability, and (c) my Humanitarian Demining: Innovative Solutions and the Challenges of Technology 58 limited experience and access to the appropriate expertise in these technologies. Sensing the explosive directly by electromagnetic or particle radiation methods (e.g. NQR, thermal neutrons, neutron backscatter), at the time, required a combination of high electrical power demand and operating times of several minutes to accumulate sufficient signal relative to background noise. These were expensive prospects. There were also lower cost indirect methods such as low frequency eddy current induction detectors, thermal infrared emissions from the ground, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and acoustic techniques. Since these methods detect ground anomalies that happen to be associated with landmines, they would also respond to other anomalies such as metal fragments and discarded trash, even tree roots, stones and ant nests in the case of GPR (Bruscini and Gros 1998). I made a strategic decision to take a different route by exploring low cost improvements to the current manual demining methods (Trevelyan 1997a). A further factor in this decision was that many military-related research projects had started to pursue multiple sensing technologies with far more access to financial resources and expertise than I could reasonably hope for. On the other hand, it seemed that no one had thought of pursuing incremental improvements to methods already in use. Fig. 1. Left: Prodding to investigate metal detector indication: Afghan deminers normally squat instead of the required prone position shown in this posed photo. Note the bayonet prodding tool and 1.5 kg military helmet with scratched visor. Right: Light weight helmet, visor, prodder with hand protection, and ballistic apron developed through research in Australia and Pakistan. The visor outer surface is protected by a replaceable scratch-resistant film. (photos: UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan, J. Trevelyan) By the turn of the millennium this alternative approach had yielded significant progress. Working with a small Pakistan-based organization we produced improved head protection by adapting methods developed in Africa for producing better quality light weight protective visors (Trevelyan 2000a). By directly interacting with Afghan deminers in their own language we were able to devise low cost tools and solutions that suited their real working conditions and cultural sensitivities. Some tools could be locally manufactured, using imported components and materials. The work on visors added to pressure on Research Challenges 59 existing manufacturers to improve their products and lower their selling prices providing world-wide benefits to demining organizations. Development has been continued by others and improvements are still occurring (Figure 5). A detailed investigation of technology needs led to the creation of a web-based resource providing background information and an extensive photograph collection on the technical challenges and needs associated with land mine clearance in several countries (Trevelyan 2000a). It was this investigation that led to the notion of a “no-mines” detector. Most researchers have attempted to provide deminers with an improved mine or explosive detector. By carefully analyzing interviews with many deminers and the agencies that support them, we built a strong case for developing technology to sense minute explosive traces. The absence of explosive traces would indicate that there was no need for costly demining over a reasonably large area, thus enabling the land to be released for agriculture or housing. Explosive detection dogs can provide one way to do this, but are still relatively expensive to operate, train and support. Analysis of accident reports compiled by the Afghanistan Mine Action Centre provided the stimulus to develop prodding tools with hand protection (Trevelyan 2000a). Most accidents were associated with prodding: investigation of metal detector indications usually by using a bayonet to dig through and clear soil to locate the source of the indication. Facial and eye injuries were common resulting in blindness because deminers did not have visors in place at the time. The visors were attached to heavy and uncomfortable helmets and the visors made from polycarbonate had became scratched, obscuring clear vision, so deminers worked with their visors raised or even took off the helmets. Accidental triggering of blast mines by prodding also resulted in major trauma to the hand holding the prodder, but otherwise only temporary deafness and superficial grazing injuries. Light weight scratch- resistant visors and hand protection for prodders could eliminate both problems, as detailed by Trevelyan (2000a). A relatively light weight apron could greatly reduce grazing from secondary fragmentation while still permitting deminers to work in their favoured squatting position (Trevelyan 1999). Efforts by the Afghan demining NGOs such as Afghan Technical Consultants to reduce the incidence of accidents were so successful that the need for protection was greatly reduced (Trevelyan 2000b). Careful analysis and measurement of the actual time required for deminers to investigate and locate metal fragments with metal detectors and prodders revealed that deminers work much faster and more reliably than many had thought possible, even with primitive tools (Trevelyan 2002; Trevelyan 2004). This work showed that advanced technology mine detectors were unlikely to be cost effective except in certain locations. 2. Evolution of Landmine Clearance Techniques Removing landmines is difficult. It is important to distinguish between humanitarian mine clearance and military mine clearance methods (sometimes called “breeching”). Military mine clearance has to work fast, in all conditions (even under fire), and therefore it is unrealistic to aim for 100% clearance. In humanitarian operations there is less time pressure and work can be suspended in unfavourable conditions, and the aim is 100% clearance to a depth considered to be practical in given working conditions. Recent political expectations of low casualties often demand very high clearance standards even in military operations. Humanitarian Demining: Innovative Solutions and the Challenges of Technology 60 Humanitarian mine clearance typically starts years, perhaps decades after the mines were laid. The mines lie buried or hidden from view. They deter people from entering the land so vegetation often grows thickly. Drainage systems rapidly become clogged denying access in wet conditions. The traditional "manual" method for removing landmines has been to use a metal detector to locate metal fragments close to the ground surface and then to carefully check each metal fragment to see if it is associated with a mine or explosive device. Any tripwires and vegetation have to be removed, with great care, before a metal detector can be used. In many areas deminers have to investigate hundreds or thousands of metal fragments for every mine found. Manual mine clearance also requires careful organization and marking of the ground to ensure safety and thorough clearance. Currently it is still the method that guarantees the lowest risk of residual mine contamination but it is expensive, typically costing US$1 - $5 /m 2 . Fig. 2. Typical ruined house overgrown by vegetation in a village in northern Croatia, possibly containing mines or booby traps. The entire village population was forced to leave in 1991 and the houses were looted and intentionally severely damaged. Vegetation problems like this must be taken into account in considering practical mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance devices. August 1999 (photo: J. Trevelyan) Armoured mine clearance machines using hammers mounted on the end of rapidly spinning chains (flails) first appeared in the 1940s but have not been able to neutralize mines with sufficient reliability for most humanitarian applications (GICHD 2004). In the late 1990s commercial mine clearance organizations operating in thick vegetation in Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia realised that flails spinning just above the ground could rapidly remove vegetation and trip wires to prepare the ground for manual clearance, often assisted by mine detection dogs. Clearance costs have been reduced by up to 80% (particularly in thick vegetation) using different combinations of machines, detection dogs and manual clearance. [...]... of humanitarian demining operations which have been funded from a combined international humanitarian aid budget of approximately US$400 million These programs spend an estimated $20 million annually on all equipment needs The market for specialized humanitarian demining detectors is therefore very small and manufacturers cannot afford research and development specifically to support humanitarian demining. .. detection." Journal of Applied Geophysics, 40(1 -3) , 59-71 68 Humanitarian Demining: Innovative Solutions and the Challenges of Technology Bruscini, C., and Gros, B (1998) "A Survey of Research on Sensor Technology for Landmine Detection." Journal of Mine Action GICHD (2004) A Study of Mechanical Application in Demining, Generva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Geneva GICHD (2005a) A Study of... Geneva GICHD (2005a) A Study of Manual Mine Clearance, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Geneva GICHD (2005b) A Study of Manual Mine Clearance: Part 4 - Risk Assessment and Risk Management, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Geneva Göth, A., McLean, I G., and Trevelyan, J P (20 03) "How do dogs detect landmines? A summary of research results." Mine Detection Dogs:... Device for Humanitarian Demining. " MD96: IEE Conference on Detecting Abandoned Landmines, Edinburgh Trevelyan, J P (1997a) "Better Tools for Deminers." International Workshop on Sustainable Humanitarian Demining, Zagreb, s6.1-s6.12 Trevelyan, J P (1997b) "Robots and landmines." Industrial Robot, 24(2), 114-125 Trevelyan, J P (1999) "Protecting Deminers." Austcare Conference on Humanitarian Demining, ... altitude (33 0 m to get a high spatial resolution) in 12 different channels, ranging from visible blue to thermal infrared, with the 74 Humanitarian Demining: Innovative Solutions and the Challenges of Technology Daedalus scanner of DLR Table 3 summarizes the characteristics of these multi-spectral data Channel Number Spectral range (μm) Wavelength of maximum sensitivity (μm) 0.41-0.46 1 0.44-0. 53 2 0.51-0.62... 0.51-0.62 3 0.58-0.65 4 0.61-0.72 5 0.67-0.80 6 0. 73- 1.00 7 0.85-1.10 8 1.45-1.82 9 1.95-2.42 10 8.20-14.0 11 8.20-14.0 12 Table 3 Characteristics of multi-spectral data 0.44 0.51 0.58 0.61 0.65 0. 73 0. 83 0.95 1.71 2.20 10.00 10.00 Resolution 0.8 - 1.0 m DLR also provided the SMART teams with a complete set of RMK photographic aerial views recorded with a coloured infrared film at a resolution of 3 cm This... examination of demining productivity revealed wasted efforts clearing large areas where the evidence strongly suggested localized patterns of landmine contamination (GICHD 2005a) While the demining organizations report impressive clearance statistics, a significant proportion of the effort achieves no useful results other than distributing donated funds among demining agency staff Yet demining operations... (1999) "Protecting Deminers." Austcare Conference on Humanitarian Demining, Sydney Trevelyan, J P (2000a) "Demining Research at the University of Western Australia." Trevelyan, J P (2000b) "Reducing Accidents in Demining. " (June 2005) Trevelyan, J P (2002) "Technology and the landmine problem: practical... (2007) "Technical Coordination in Engineering Practice." Journal of Engineering Education, 96 (3) , 191-204 Trevelyan, J P., Tilli, S., Parks, B., and Teng, H C (2002) "Farming Minefields: Economics of Remediating Land with Moderate Landmine and UXO Concentrations." Demining Technology Information Forum Journal, 1 (3) 3 Mine-suspected Area Reduction Using Aerial and Satellite Images Acheroy Marc and Yvinec... fences, mechanized survey and risk reduction methods and selective manual clearance (GICHD 2005a, part 4) Protective measures applied to agricultural machinery offer cheaper alternatives in low AT risk areas (Trevelyan et al 2002) 3 Evolution of Demining Research Priorities Unlike mountain climbing, researchers in demining have had to contend with shifting objectives A combination of slow progress with research, . on Humanitarian Demining: Innovative Solutions and the Challenges of Technology 52 Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS’ 03) , 20 03, pp. 32 9 -33 4. Department of Defense, Humanitarian Demining. Danielson, G. & P. Blachford, P. (20 03) . DIANA 44T Test and Evaluation – August 20 03. Ref.: 13 345:60629, Swedish Armed Forces, Swedish EOD and Demining Centre, 20 03. Danielsson, G. & G. Coley,. Cornelis, J. (1999). EUDEM: The EU in Humanitarian DEMining. EU report, Brussels, 1999. Burke, S. (20 03) . The U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program.