Detection of Explosives and Landmines: Methods and Field Experience: 66 (NATO Science Series II: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) - Tapa dura

This ARW is the third NATO-sponsored workshop on Explosives Detection and Humanitarian Demining. The previous events were · Detection and Destruction of Anti-Personnel Landmines Moscow, 1997 · Explosives Detection and Decontamination of the Environment Prague, 1997. Over the last decade applied research in Humanitarian Demining has made progress to some extend, but according to the tremendous tasks of Demining and the lack of scientific methods for practical detection of explosive devices, research activities are still of the same importance than ever before. Concerning countermeasures against terrorism the detection of explosives is one of the keyfactors, but the practical applications are not sufficient solved. An international exchange of research results are therefore urgent, to find out the most promising measures for application. The coincidence of this ARW and the terrible disaster of New York and Washington may demonstrate the importance of this task. In consequence the explosive device detection technologies can make a major contribution to collective, family and individual security. In developed countries, these technologies provide a strong deterrent and preventative measure against terrorist threats. In less developed regions, they can improve individual, institutional and state security, lessening the insecurity that motivates many terrorists acts. The elimination of landmine threats is just one of many ways of achieving this. However our attempts to meet the extremely difficult technical challenges posed by landmine and UXO contamination are inevitably leading us to new technological approaches.

The problem of reliably detecting explosives, whether in buried landmines or hidden in cars, aircraft cargo, baggage, or carried by suicide bombers, has not yet been solved. Explosive device detection technology can make a major contribution to collective, family and individual security. This book reviews the state of the art in a wide range of different technologies and considers whether there are alternative methods or technologies. It includes information from experts about methods and field experience.

The consensus is that current sensor technologies are inadequate for most mine action tasks and anti-terrorist activities (consider plastic mines) and no single sensor system will be able to meet all needs. Scientists must forge strong links with end users and should visit real minefields to acquire a clear understanding of the problems.