Demonstration of an Enhanced Vertical Magnetic Gradient System for UXO
Abstract
It is estimated that unexploded ordnance (UXO) may contaminate 15 million acres or more within the United States alone. A need for improved technologies for mapping and detecting UXO has led to development of a sequence of airborne reconnaissance systems using electromagnetic and magnetic sensors. In 2002, Battelle staff (then at Oak Ridge National Laboratory [ORNL]) evaluated a prototype airborne vertical magnetic gradient system for mapping and detecting UXO. Airborne total field systems demonstrated detection rates of less than 50% for these ordnance types in earlier performance assessments. The vertical magnetic gradient systems of VG-16 and VG-22, differ in the number of magnetometers as well as the separation between magnetometer pods (where a pod houses two magnetometers) and in their swath width. Both systems were developed with WAA in mind, with the expectation that VG-16 would provide an improved tool for airborne WAA surveys contaminated with large munitions. The VG-22 system was intended for WAA use at sites where smaller ordnance types could be detected more reliably. There were two distinct objectives for this demonstration: 1) assessing the effectiveness of two vertical magnetic gradient systems for mapping and detecting small ordnance items and 2) assessing the effectiveness of the VG configurations for WAA applications. The demonstration site for this project was used for previous WAA demonstrations and therefore provided a basis for achieving this second objective. No specific regulatory drivers influenced this technology demonstration. The VG-22 system achieved an overall detection (Pd) of 86%, and VG-16 achieved an overall detection of 55% for all ordnance types emplaced in the blind-seed grid, emplaced and assessed by ESTCP with support from IDA.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA499434
Entities
People
- William E. Doll
Organizations
- Battelle Memorial Institute