Innovation makes humanitarian demining safer and more efficient

Drones today are equipped with special radar, satellite imagery and remote mine detection systems. Scientific and technological advances are an integral part of the techniques used in humanitarian demining, and they play a key role in making operations safer and more efficient. Innovation is one of the pillars that will be further developed at the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (see box below). In Ukraine, the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) uses these technologies on a daily basis. They are particularly useful for non-technical surveys prior to land clearance, and for mine neutralisation and excavation operations. 

The FSD was one of the first to use ground-based remote sensing platforms and mechanical demining tools, often remote-controlled, to speed up manual demining work. The machines used reduce the risks for deminers, while increasing the speed and scale of operations, particularly in large fields and flat agricultural areas. These machines, like the GCS 200 produced by Swiss-based Global Clearance Solutions, are particularly useful for clearing vegetation and other obstacles. Switzerland, through the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), is also working with the Digger Foundation. The DIGGER D-250 machine was made available to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) in September 2023. Discussions are also about to be finalised for the delivery of an additional machine to Ukraine. 

Satellite images are also being used to support the teams working specifically on non-technical surveys. The FSD, for example, integrates satellite data to create highly accurate, up-to-date maps showing potentially hazardous areas, changes in the environment and areas affected by bombing or conflict. These images also help to assess the state of the soil, vegetation and infrastructure in environments where the fighting has stopped.

Aerial images can also be taken using drones equipped with high-resolution cameras which, like satellite imagery, can be used to create precise maps of potentially hazardous areas. Drones speed up initial surveys and make it possible to prioritise clearance tasks more quickly. Their ability to cover vast areas and collect data in real time has made a significant contribution to the effectiveness of mine action operations in Ukraine.

In a country where almost a quarter of the territory is potentially contaminated by mines and other explosive devices, tools such as aerial images and satellite imagery are essential for planning and coordinating demining activities. They enable national authorities to prioritise areas to be demined, based on factual and accurate data, without having to resort to excessive manual input. 

Scientists at the University of Ulm (Germany) have developed a special radar sensor for drones. This technology was developed as part of the FindMine project, entirely funded by the Urs Endress Foundation, and in which the FSD is an active participant. This ground-penetrating radar contains electromagnetic sensors. It can detect landmines even when they are hidden below the surface or obscured by vegetation. The various sensors fitted to this radar enable the drones to transmit images of mines and other objects in the area they fly over in real time. It has been tested in the laboratory and on testing grounds in Ulm and will be trialled in Ukraine by the end of 2024.

Since earlier this year, FSD deminers have been using drones on a daily basis for almost every stage of humanitarian demining. And more breakthroughs are yet to come: researchers are already close to enabling 'swarms' of drones to work together to spot hazards over a much larger area.