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Last updated: May 2008 (in progress) Disclaimer: the content of this site reflects my personal experience and opinions: these should not be taken 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 more than twelve years, 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. Anyone interested can also join the Humanitarian Demining forum. This website provides a gateway for people to read or download a wide range of documents and materials on Mine Action - including 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 am trying to keep it 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 - try again next month. 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 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, of course, made from recycled assault rifles - and it shows me as a Don Quixote.
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AVS, Andy Smith |
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| ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Andy Smith, AVS Mine Action Consultants |