Unexploded Ordnances (UXO's) comprise a major area of concern due to the risk it imposes on the civil population and the risk of contamination. Government studies revealed that the ranges where UXO mitigation activities are required comprise an area the size of Florida.
However, the current methods used at munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) sites for buried unexploded ordnance detection are extremely expensive and frequently provide unsatisfactory results. This is due mainly to the inability of current technology to discriminate between UXO and non-hazardous items. About 90% of the total cost of MEC site remediation is on excavating objects that pose no threat.
The use of GPS systems to aid in a more efficient geolocation of UXOs is limited because of the potential hazard of the radio and even fact of actually having to occupy the actual spot where the UXO resides.
Current research developments devised a geolocation system designed as a tight quadruple integration of a Global Positioning System (GPS), Inertial Navigation System (INS), a terrestrial RF system, often called a pseudolite (PL), and an Azimuth Pointing System (APS).
Thanks to the "Missing Line Mode of Operation", the Azimuth Pointing System can take measurements in areas that the surveyor cannot physically occupy, and calculate azimuth and inclination between two remote points. The APS laser system can then create a position (X, Y, and Z) of coordinates on a map as to the location, which can then be used support the GPS/INS/PL-based navigation to achieve high-accuracy relative positioning in impeded environments.
When the Missing Line (ML) feature is pressed on the APS, the user will be prompted to take a laser measurement to the first remote point. After that measurement, the APS will prompt for the laser measurement to the second point. The APS will then calculate and display Azimuth, Inclination and Distance from the first remote point to the second one.
With this information, the MEC remediation activities are guided with more accuracy, achieving superior success rate with less excavations: a more efficient and less costly way to identify and reclaim unexplored ordnances.
At Loggerhead we can help you develop a system for enabling a more efficient UXO detection and discrimination. Generically, such a system will ecompass a GPS unit, an IMU and PL Transmitter, a Laser Scanner with its Mounting Pole, and the APS, giving place to what is called a "UXO - Sensor Pushcart".
Contact us if you are interested in this type of solution.
