Detection
From Wiki Against Mines
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Detection methods for Demining
On this page, scientists will present methods for the detection of landmines that, from a physics point of view, promise to be succesfull and effective. Reports are structured in three parts:
- General description of the context and field experiences.
- Detailed description of scientific basics.
- Scientific and detailed reports as a basis for the development of new equipment or the improvement of already existing equipment.
Existing references, bibliographies, field reports and test records are added as downloads.
According to an analysis of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the United States of America [1] there are 19 technological methods for Land Mine Detecting that are considered useful and effective. Some of these technologies, like the metal detector or radar, have been studied by scientists for many years. Other methods like x-ray fluorescence are not well known in connection with land mine detection.
Science against Mines makes it it’s task to describe these 19 methods at a varying level of scientific detail. We want to present the information in an accessible way so that a lay audience can get a basic understanding of the detection methods. At the same time we would like to attract the interest of specialists and those who are interested in engineering techniques or fundamental science. We hope that these people join our competence network and share their knowledge with us.
The investigated technologies use different principles. Fifteen of them, which are divided in active and passive ones, work with the reception of electromagnetic energy of a target (object, e.g. mine in surrounding).
Active Methods
Ten of these 15 electromagnetic technologies utilize the active emission of energy into the ground (in one case it is energy in the form of neutrons).
- Conductivity
- Electro-magnetic induction
- X-ray fluorescence
- Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance
- Gamma ray imaging
- Electromagnetic radiography
- Ground penetrating Radar
- Laser/Lidar/Lips
- TeraHertz imaging
- X-ray backscatter
Passive Methods
The other five technologies are "passive" electromagnetic technologies. They are based on receiving energy that was radiated (emitted) by the mine itself.
Other Technologies
The last four of the 19 technologies do not make use of electromagnetic waves. Two detect and analyse the explosives a mine emits into the ground and air. Another technology is based on acoustic (sound) or seismic energy, which is reflected by the target. And the fourth one is based on the emission of neutrons towards the target.
Literature
- ↑ GAO-01-239 Land Mine Detection Report
