Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Alternatives for Landmine Detection

We all know that landmines are a real problem, killing and maiming far to many children and adults each year. New technologies are desperately needed to help in the removal of landmines. There is a major role for ICT in this effort, and indeed one can frame important aspects of the landmine problem as Knowledge for Development issues. The following is a RAMD study that discusses some of the ICT challenges and opportunities.

Alternatives for Landmine Detection
Abstract: "At the rate that government and nongovernmental organizations are clearing existing landmines, it will take 450-500 years to rid the world of them. Concerned about the slow pace of demining, the Office of Science and Technology asked RAND to assess potential innovative technologies being explored and to project what funding would be required to foster the development of the more promising ones. The authors of this report suggest that the federal government undertake a research and development effort to develop a multisensor mine detection system over the next five to eight years." By Jacqueline MacDonald, J. R. Lockwood, John McFee, Thomas Altshuler, Thomas Broach, Lawrence Carin, Russell Harmon, Carey Rappaport, Waymond Scott, and Richard Weaver, 2003. (350 pages.)
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1608/index.html

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