NPA/RENEW use technology to improve landmine clearance

	NPA/RENEW back to survey and clearance work as social distancing eased
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	A recoilless projectile safely removed from Quang Tri's residential area

The Scorpion, a man-portable detection system that utilizes a one meter wide electro-magnetic induction sensor and a total field magnetometer to detect buried cluster munitions and other explosive ordnance. Photo: Hien Ngo/NPA-RENEW

A variety of mechanical systems are manufactured to destroy and detonate mines. Machines have the potential to accelerate the progress of other assets through removing vegetation and tripwires and breaking up soil in support of manual deminers and animal detection systems. They play a crucial role in the systematic investigation variant of technical survey. Moreover, mechanical demining systems can greatly increase the effectiveness and efficiency of mine/ERW clearance operations.

Having worked in Thuan Dau Village of Hai An Commune, Hai Lang District since May 27, the Scorpion team is responsible for inspecting previously cleared land before it is officially released to the beneficiary for safe use. The area where the Scorpion is conducting quality control consists of 634,590 square meters that were cleared by the Norwegian People’s Aid – Project RENEW (NPA/RENEW)’s clearance teams earlier this year.

As part of the funding and support from the US Department of Defense (US DoD) to Operational Field Evaluation project with NPA in Vietnam, the Scorpion system can detect cluster munitions and other explosive ordnance by using new detection technology. The system is capable of mapping and providing centimeter accuracy of target locations thanks to its differential global positioning system (DGPS).

The US Department of Defense-funded Scorpion detection system uses differential global positioning system (DGPS) to provide centimeter accuracy of target locations and mapping capability. Photo: Hien Ngo/NPA-RENEW

Following the successful testing in Thua Thien Hue Province in 2019, the Scorpion system will be an important add-on to ensure further increased in the effectiveness and efficiency of our Battle Area Clearance operations in Quang Tri Province.

Meanwhile, the Bearcat vegetation cutting system used to develop, demonstrate and validate detection and mechanical systems for more effective and efficient clearance of cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war in Vietnam.

The Bearcat vegetation removal system in Trieu Ai Commune, Trieu Phong District. Photo: Hien Ngo/NPA-RENEW

With support from the US Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program, Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, since July 2019, NPA-RENEW has deployed a vegetation cutting system (Bearcat) in support of clearance operations in Quang Tri.

The Bearcat team is working to remove vegetation on a Confirmed Hazardous Area (CHA) of 750,000 square meters in Ha Xa Village of Trieu Ai Commune, Trieu Phong District before a clearance team will be deployed to make it safe for the local people.

NPA Survey & Clearance Program implemented with Project RENEW is a cooperation project between NPA Vietnam and Quang Tri Province Department of Foreign Affairs./.

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