With drones, geophysics and artificial intelligence, researchers prepare to do battle against land mines
Why it matters: 100 million landmines in 80 countries kill or maim 15,000 people annually, 80% of whom are civilians.
- Jasper Baur, a Ph.D. student, is combining volcanology studies with developing new demining technologies, noting that both volcanoes and mines are "explosive hazards" that utilize similar instruments and data analysis.
- New demining technologies integrate drone-mounted geophysical instruments and artificial intelligence to address the slow, dangerous, and expensive work of traditional mine detection.
- Approximately 100 million mines and unexploded ordnance are estimated to be present in nearly 80 countries, causing up to 15,000 deaths or injuries annually, with 80% being civilians.
- Ukraine is now considered the most mined country globally, with an estimated one-third of its territory, or 70,000 square miles, littered with mines and UXO, a problem that could take 750 years to clear at current rates.
- Current demining methods involve individuals with metal detectors, clearing only about 150 square meters on a good day at a cost of $300 to $1,000 per mine, highlighting the inefficiency of existing approaches.
Researchers are deploying drones, geophysics, and artificial intelligence to revolutionize landmine detection, a critical shift from outdated manual methods that have seen little change since the 1930s. This innovative approach, spearheaded by individuals like Jasper Baur, aims to combat the global crisis of over 100 million landmines and unexploded ordnance, which currently kill or maim up to 15,000 people annually, predominantly civilians and children.
