Field Evaluation - Cambodia.

Objective
Evaluate existing commercial off-the-shelf metal ("mine") detectors suitable for humanitarian demining, identify which detectors are best suited for a particular operational environment or geographic set of conditions, and serve as a test vehicle for future international test and evaluation projects.

Description
The International Pilot Project for Technology Cooperation (IPPTC) is a concept that originated in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (OASD(SO/LIC)) in October 1997. Work commenced in December 1998. Project partners include the OASD(SO/LIC) and Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate of the United States, Canada's Defense Research Establishment Suffield (DRES), the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) of the United Kingdom, the Royal Netherlands Army and the Dutch TNO-FEL, and the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC).

Contractor/Developer
U.S. Army CECOM Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate
10221 Burbeck Road, Ste. 430
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5806
ATTN: Christine Lee
Phone: (703) 704-1842
Fax: (703) 704-3001
Email: christine.lee@nvl.army.mil

The project focused on quantifying the performance of commercially available handheld metal detectors against AP landmines. The mine targets used in the tests are representative of predominant AP landmines found throughout the world. Metal detector manufacturers worldwide were solicited to identify detectors suitable for humanitarian demining missions and environments. This solicitation resulted in the acquisition of 25 different detectors (29 sensors) from 13 different manufacturers. In-soil testing was conducted in the Netherlands in clay, sand, laterite, and peat soil lanes. In-air tests were conducted at the DRES facility for the purpose of quantifying certain aspects of detector performance (calibration, drift, sweep speed, scan profile, sensitivity, and moisture) in a highly controlled environment. Ergonomic factors (robustness, ease of use, weight, and comfort) were also tested. In-country tests in Cambodia and Croatia, using indigenous deminers, were conducted in an attempt to validate the in-air and in-soil tests as well as introduce human and environmental factors into the evaluation process.

Limitations

• Several new detectors have been introduced into the market since the start of the project, but could not be evaluated.
• In-country tests are only representative of areas within Europe and Asia.

Status

Cambodian field evaluation team.

In-Air Test Setup - DRES. 

In-Soil Test Setup - TNO Lab.

Field Evaluation - Croatia.