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Last updated: June 2009 Disclaimer: the content of this site reflects my personal experience and opinions: these should not be presumed to represent the opinion of any of the people or organisations I have worked with. For detailed reports on accidents in which deminers have detonated a device as they work, see the Database of Demining Accident victims at DDAS online. These reports are often snapshots of minefield activity and can help you to understand the varied processes involved, and the varied risks associated with them. Having been involved in Humanitarian Demining for longer than I care to remember, I find that I am frequently contacted with questions about Mine Action. Some are technical questions from professionals, others are more "basic" questions from newcomers. At times I find it hard to find the time to answer appropriately, so I put this website together to try to answer the more common questions generically. If you cannot find the answer you need, write to me at avs(at)nolandmines.com. Anyone interested can also join the Humanitarian Demining forum and put their questions to a wider group of professionals. This website provides a gateway for people to read or download a wide range of documents and materials on Mine Action - including "operating procedures" for demining groups to adapt, and training materials for both the experienced and the inexperienced. If you are a newcomer, when you have finished looking through the introduction I recommend that you read the paper:- Myths, Mines and Ground Clearance. The documents and materials are divided into the categories shown on the right.
This site will always be "under construction" because I am always learning. I have tried to keep the site simple because the content matters more than the web-design. I hope that it will be easy to access - so please let me know if it is not. If a link is not live today - it may be later. I hope this site can reduce the number of "cowboy" operators at all levels in the Humanitarian Demining community, from researcher to hands-on deminer.
If you have comments or papers, improvements or criticisms - please send them. About Andy Smith or email me at avs(at)nolandmines.com Many thanks to Craig and Hum Relyea of Virginia, USA who have generously made this site available.
And thanks to those in 2002 in Mozambique who awarded me the above sculpture in recognition of my work in demining. It is made from recycled assault rifles. While I am no kind of knight, I do wear armour, like horses, and I advocate using long handtools - as well as believing in tilting at the odd windmill, of course....
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AVS, Andy Smith 2009 |
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| ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Andy Smith, AVS Mine Action Consultants |