On the use of magnets in manual demining operations · On the use of magnets in manual demining...

Arnold Schoolderman

ASEM Seminar on New Technologies forDemining and Human Security5-6 March 2009, Taranto, Italy

On the use of magnets in manualdemining operations

ASEM Seminar, Taranto, March 5-6 2009Magnets in manual demining2

TNO (www.tno.nl)

• TNO = Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research

• 4800 employees

• 5 branches:- Construction and Geophysics- Industry and Technology- Quality of Life (health, food, ergonomics, etc)- Information and Communication Technology- Defence, Security and Safety:

850 employeesapprox. 80% funded by Netherlands MoDother: NATO, EDA, companies3 locations: The Hague, Rijswijk, Soesterberg


Content

• Observations on manual demining

• Dual sensors

• Magnets in manual demining

• ITEP project “Magnetic clutter reduction efficiency”• Magnet-tools• SOP• Instruction• Trails in Cambodia and Angola• Conclusions and proposed way ahead


Observations on manual demining

• Hand-held metal detector is the preferred detection techniquein most manual demining operations- simple to learn and operate (local operators)- low cost- development in last years: suitable for mineralized soil- main disadvantage:

high number of false alarmsup to 100 – 1000 false alarms on 1 mine

decreases speed of demining drastically

• Study of GICHD: 50% reduction of false alarms in manual demining yields 21% to 47% efficiency improvement of operation(in 10 out of 12 demining scenarios)

• Challenge: how to decrease the number of false alarms?


Dual sensor detectors for mine detection• New in theater

- metal detector as primary detector, combined with groundpenetrating radar (GPR)- aims at false alarms reduction

Disadvantages: - difficult to use; - asks for long training; - experience is essential;- SOP should be modified;- expensive (difficult to obtain?);- most important: detection performance?acceptance by users?

• Metal detectors with ability todiscriminate?


Magnets in manual demining

• Alternative false alarm reduction: use of hand-held magnets as addition to metal detector- easy to use- (relatively) cheap- no maintenance; robust- simple addition to SOPbut: not a 100% solution

• Experiences with magnets- CMAC: ring magnet (loudspeaker) used during excavation- CROMAC: small but strong magnet-tool (in excavation)- Andy Smith: magnet brush rake trialed in Mozambique (2004)- probably more, but not reported

• Role of ITEP: independent tests, results are public available


ITEP project “Magnetic clutter reduction efficiency”

• ITEP project paid by Netherlands Ministry of Defence: field evaluation of hand-held magnets- 2006 - 2007- different magnet models- field evaluations with CMAC (Cambodia) and NPA (Angola)- by local deminers, in live demining operations

• 1st Phase:Selection criteria for magnets in manual demining- questionnaire to attendees of GICHD/UNMAS Workshop 2006- weight, cost, training requirements, robustness, etc(low response on questionnaire)


Magnet-tools in trials


Magnet-tool in manual demining SOP during trial

1. Check area visually on metal, removal of vegetation ( remove metal)

2. Scan with metal detector

3. If MD alarm: scan that location with the magnet-tool

4. Record (on sheet) that an MD alarm is found. If the magnet-tool finds piece of metal remove metal

5. Scan the location again with MD;record the (non)-occurrence of the MD alarm

6. Proceed according to the original SOP: (a) No MD-alarm: step forward and scan new area with MD

proceed (step 1)(b) MD-alarm: prodding, excavation, etc remove metal(during excavation the magnet-tool can be used)


Instruction on the use of the magnet-tools(and data reporting)


Trial procedure

• Comparison of groups of deminers working with different magnet-tools

• Reference group working without a magnet-tool, according to unmodified SOP (CMAC or NPA)

• Main measure: area cleared per day, per deminer for each magnet-tool

• Recording of all metal found, and how (visual, magnet-tool, excavation)


Trial in Cambodia with CMAC – magnet-tools


Trial in Cambodia with CMAC – metal clutter


1st Trial in Angola with NPA: area clearance


2nd Trial in Angola with NPA: road clearance


Trials in Angola – magnet-tools


Conclusions from the trials (1)

• Increase in speed of demining by the use of magnets is not proved(due to many uncontrolable variables in live demining operations?)

Average sq m/deminer/day

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

sq m

eter

per

dem

iner

per

day

with magnet-toolreference group

Average number of metal parts per sq m

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

aver

age

# m

etal

par

ts/s

q m

with magnet-toolreference group


Conclusions from the trials (2)

• Magnets can be used safely and easily by local deminers to reducethe number of false alarms from metal detectors

• All deminers were interviewed after the trials.Feedback from the deminers (on final magnet-tool type): - “I learned to used the magnet in a few minutes”- “easy to find very small pieces of metal”- “speeds up the operation”- “should be part of the demining toolbox”


Way ahead

• As a result from a presentation at the GICHD/UNMAS Mine Action Technology Workshop, September 2008:requests for support from Angola, Sudan, Iraq, Nepal and Peru

• Formal request for support from NPA to TNO:pilot implementation of the magnet-tool in all manual deminingoperations (150 deminers) of NPA in Angola ( Sudan?)- Depends on funding- Small redesign of the tool (lower production costs)

• Comprehensive report available on www.itep.ws


Thanks to:

• GICHD and UNMASfor advice and support

• Cambodian Mine Action Centerand Norwegian People’s Aid Angolafor participation in the trials

On the use of magnets in manual demining operations · On the use of magnets in manual demining...

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