Detection of Buried Mines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
Abstract
Most military and commercial detectors sense the presence of metal casings or components of buried mines or explosive ordnance; however, this traditional approach to mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection is prone to high false alarm rates. Explosive components, common to all mines and ordnance devices, offer a unique discriminator among buried objects. Two approaches to detect buried explosive devices directly are investigated: chemical trace detection, which relies on detecting either the vapor emanating from buried devices or the small explosive particles [and/or their explosive-related compounds (ERCs)] concentrated in the top soil, and radiation techniques, which uses radiation to probe beneath the earth's surface to provide bulk detection of buried explosive devices. This report describes the technology approaches and the current performance of each approach and discusses some promising new explosive detection technologies. It suggests that the Joint Unexploded Ordnance Coordination Office (JUXOCO) take a leadership role in establishing standards and protocols for reporting the results of field measurements in which trace analyses are used for detection of buried mines and ordnance and in sponsoring the development and maintenance of an open-sourced code to predict the variability of explosive detection in different environments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA475760
Entities
People
- Bohdan Balko
- David Heberlein
- Isaac Chappell
- John Biddle
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses