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Tajikistan Mine Action CentreUnited Nations Development Programme
121 S. Ayni Str., 734013
Dushanbe, Tajikistan,
E-mail: mineaction.tajikistan@undp.org
URL: www.mineaction.tj
Tel/Fax: (992 37) 227-0947, 221-6687
Technical Survey
The experience in many mine action programmes including the mine action programme in Tajikistan indicates that a large number of SHA are, in fact, hazard free. In many instances the targeting of clearance assets could have been improved if appropriate non-technical and technical surveys had been conducted. The challenge is to attempt to better define the land that contains explosive hazards so that clearance activities can be limited to those areas.
A physical intrusive process into a hazardous area may provide enough information to allow an informed assessment of the clearance needs. This process is known as a technical survey and although it may be a separate activity, it is often integrated with clearance and undertaken before, during and even after clearance.
When sufficient information is available and non-technical survey(s) are carried out well, technical surveys may not be necessary before clearance. Where it is required, a technical survey may confirm the presence of mines or ERW leading to the location of one or more Defined Hazardous Areas (DHA). Alternatively, a technical survey may add to the confidence that there are no hazards leading to some, or all, of the land being released without the necessity for clearance.
Where the non-technical survey has indicated the presence of hazards in an unpredictable pattern, it may be appropriate to apply technical survey methods that provide full coverage over selected areas. If the outcome from such technical surveys is that no hazards are found, land release may be justified in some or all of the area when the combined data from non-technical and technical surveys provide sufficient confidence that no hazards are present. Where survey finds evidence of hazards, however, subsequent clearance of the area may be required.
Technical survey can be an important component of the land release process and can provide important information to improve planning of clearance tasks where hazards are identified.
In Tajikistan, technical survey operations are conducted by multi-purpose demining teams which are structured, trained and equipped to conduct technical survey, battle area clearance and manual clearance. Technical survey operations are conducted manually, with mine detection dogs and mechanical demining machines.
When technical survey finds hazards caused by mines or ERW the operations switch to mine clearance of the supposed hazardous area and the technical survey restarts after the hazard is removed.
Site managers should seek to switch from clearance to TS methods as soon as it is justified to do so. Clearance activities should be confined to those areas where there is firm evidence to indicate the presence of mines. In other areas TS methods should be used to identify more tightly defined DHAs.
A switch from clearance to TS methods should take place as soon as the criteria described in the SIP are met. The FO may propose a switch before the SOP criteria are met when satisfied that the situation justifies it. TMAC QA will review the situation and agree to the switch or describe any different criteria, which should be applied. Where there is a decision to change the switching criteria it should be documented and signed off in the SIP change log.
TS should only be continued where it is justified to do so. If the available information indicates that all expected hazard items have been found and dealt with, then site managers should consider cancellation of the remaining area.
