Mine and UXO exploration by electrical resistivity measurements

Mine clearing is an urgent matter to be tackled internationally not only from the humanitarian point of view but also from the viewpoint of reconstruction and economic growth in the area where a cessation of armed conflicts was achieved. Operations are already underway to clear landmines, but currently they rely heavily on human works due to a lack of safer and efficient demining techniques. Various geophysical exploration techniques have been applied to the problem of detecting and mapping underground mines and UXO with practical success. The most productive techniques are magnetic, electromagnetic and Ground Penetrating Radar methods for which the mine target exhibits the greatest physical contrast with the host geological formation. Developments of more sensitive geophysical equipments for detecting mines is required to meet the geophysical conditions of lower contrast with the environment and at the scale of the target. Starting from May 2004, a channel of communication between the Egyptian embassy in Tokyo and the Kyushu University Mine Action Group (QMAG) team on the topics of landmines in Egypt has been established on how to apply geophysical techniques newly developed geophysical techniques in Japan to solve the problem of landmines in Egypt. We arranged a campaign for landmines detection technology in Egypt, conducted by research teams of QMAG of Kyushu University. During the campaign three geophysical techniques, DC resistivity, magnetic and ground penetration radar were tested and evaluated.