Program and Operations Update

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Program and Operations Update
Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System ---
HSTAMIDS ---
Robert C. Doheny US/DoD Mine Action National
Directors and UN Advisors Meeting 21 Mar 2007
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HSTAMIDS OVERVIEW

• Proven dual sensor, handheld mine detector
• -- Combines electro magnetic induction sensor and
  ground penetrating radar (GPR)
• -- Real-time algorithms fuse sensor data enabling
  discrimination between mines and clutter
• -- Metal detector is modified Minelab F1A4 with
  ground compensation
• -- Extensively tested in HD and Mil
• environments
• Highly accurate metal vs. mine discrimination
  provides greater efficiency and clearance rates
• 3,000 detectors fielded with US forces, in
  full-scale production for 15,000 systems

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HD FOCUS for HSTAMIDS

• 2000 - 2002 Promising PerformanceGrowth
• Decision to Leverage HSTAMIDS for HD
• Partner with Program Manager
• HD funds Performance Enhancement Program
• 2003 - 2005 Verify HD Utility
• Introduce Evaluate System with Deminers in
  Field
• Down-select Product Improvements
• Develop Software and Hardware Enhancements
• 2006 - 2008 HD Fielding
• Conduct Worldwide Demining Operations
• Continue Fielding HSTAMIDS to Demining
  Organizations
• Continuous Technology Insertion

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HSTAMIDS FIELD EVAL/DEMO
AFGHANISTAN
THAILAND
NAMIBIA
OBJECTIVES

• To evaluate system performance and suitability
  in various Humanitarian Demining environments
  throughout the world.

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FIELD EVAL/DEMO OBJECTIVES (cont)
2. To train local demining organizations
deminers in the proper use and operation of
HSTAMIDS.

• Assess performance of the trained deminers after
  limited experience and training with the HSTAMIDS
  and to evaluate
• Training methods,
• Human factor characteristics

4. Demonstrate the HSTAMIDS to regional
demining organizations
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MULTI-NATIONAL TEST TEAM
International Test and Evaluation Program (ITEP)

• ITEP Work Plan number 2.4.2.6
• Intensive planning and preparation effort
• Partners
• Canada
• Netherlands
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• United States

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EVALUATION CHALLENGES

• 15 different types of certified mines
• Deeper mine depths than regional threat (ITEP
  Specified)
• Considerable clutter
• Higher numbers of more challenging mines
• More APs than ATs (62)
• Low-metal AT mines (31)
• High-metal ATs (7)
• Test differs from demining standard operating
  procedures
• Deminers do not locate center of mine
• No real-time confirmation for operators during
  test

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INTRODUCE HSTAMIDS TO HD COMMUNITY

• OBJECTIVES MET
• Demonstrated performance of HSTAMIDS to demining
  organizations
• Trained demining organizations deminers in
  proper use and operation of HSTAMIDS
• Assessed performance after limited experience and
  training
• Tested in real world conditions with
  comprehensive global mine threat

THAILAND Nov04
AFGHANISTAN Nov05
NAMIBIA Mar05
MgM, Angola, HALO Trust Angola
Thailand Mine Action Center, HALO Trust Cambodia
HALO Trust Afghanistan
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TAKE-AWAYS FROM HSTAMIDS FE/Ds

• Consistent results
• 5 different demining teams
• 3 Unique environments
• Comprehensive Mine Threat
• Rigorous Test Statistically significant
• Excellent performance by Trainees
• Introductory field training
• Not in native language
• Complex system debunked
• Consistently 12-25 points higher in Pd than MD
  operators
• Accelerated operational fielding and long term
  evaluations
• Tailored Afghanistan FE/D to support early
  fielding.

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Readiness for HD Fielding Operations

• By the start of 2006...
• System in Production
• Full Mil Standard Qualifications
• Durability
• Supportability
• Environmental
• Extensive Development and Operational Performance
  Testing
• Eight (8) diverse test arenas - weather and soil
  conditions
• Over 10,000 mine encounters
• Over 50,000 pieces of clutter
• HD Field Evaluations
• Three (3) Countries Five (5) Demining
  Organizations
• Over 2,000 mine encounters
• Over 6,000 pieces of clutter

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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluations
Afghanistan, May - July 06 HALO Trust Afghanistan
Cambodia, April 06 to Present HALO Trust Cambodia
Thailand, August 06 - March 07 Thailand Mine
Action Center
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HSTAMIDS in OPERATIONS

• Established training sites Cambodia,
  Afghanistan, Thailand
• Provided training to deminers
• Assisted with development of SOPs
• Conducted actual operations with HSTAMIDS as
  primary sensor
• Obtained data feedback to evaluate and improve
  system

CAMBODIA
AFGHANISTAN
THAILAND
June 06-Present
Mar 06-Present
May-July 06
HALO Trust, Cambodia
HALO Trust, Afghanistan
Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC)
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HSTAMIDS Operations NW Cambodia, K-5
OU KAMBOT
CHONG SRAE
HALO Anlong Veaeng
BOENG TRAKUON
HALO Thmar Pouk
KDEP THMA SOP TRAINING AREA
OU TAMENG
INTIAL TRAINING
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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluation ---
CAMBODIA ---

• Phase 1-Training, Siem Reap
• Conducted over 2 weeks
• 11 HALO students, 3 MAG students
• Course differs from previously taught classes

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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluation

• Phase 2-SOP Training, Kdep Thmar
• New SOPs had to be developed to catch up to
  technology
• Lateral sweep method introduced for efficiency
• Evolves with Operations

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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluation

• Phase 3-Minefield Integration
• Continue to evolve and refine process
• Constant dry runs prior to execution for safety
• Evolves with new situations and environments
• Minefield personnel must be trained
• Required out of box thinking
• Operated in many different areas as to learn from
  different situations
• HSTAMIDS used as primary sensor

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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluation

• Phase 4-Operator evaluations
• Target date is every 3 months
• Ensure proficiency is maintained
• Check operator for following proper swing and
  SOPs
• New ideas to improve operations?

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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluation

• 22 Different Minefields have been cleared using
  HSTAMIDS
• HSTAMIDS teams moved throughout the country to
  encounter all soils/terrains/mine types found in
  Cambodia

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Lateral Clearance

• Lateral Sweep A new approach in minefield
  operations
• Process Working along the boundary of cleared
  and uncleared ground,
• HSTAMIDS deminers operate laterally along a mine
  lane, marking as
• they go and moving on to complete the lane.

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Increased sensitivity
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Problem solving
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Obstructions
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Efficiency

• HSTAMIDS distinguishes over 88 of indications as
  clutter. Quick investigation of these, reserving
  more laborious excavation for mine calls, allows
  the reduction of as much as four deminers per
  HSTAMIDS section.
• At right, deminer excavates sole mine call of 40
  chips. Area cleared with conventional detectors
  but abandoned due to heavy contamination.
  HSTAMIDS investigation of 40 clutter calls (blue
  chips) took half the time it took to investigate
  one probable mine chip (red chip).

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11 Mine Types Found
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Observations -- Cost Savings with Precision

• Greater Area/HSTAMIDS/day
• Avg. 275m2 per day/HSTAMIDS unit vs.
  25m2/day/conventional detector
• 88 clutter rejection
• Streamlined SOPs
• Rapid investigation
• Pared down teams
• Greater Accuracy
• Cambodia demining teams QAd two conventionally
  cleared minefields
• Finding mines at unusual depths, in degraded
  states, at angles

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HSTAMIDS Operations Field Evaluations
Performance Summary, April06 Mar07
Area Cleared 238,365 m² Mines Found
1,595 Clutter Found 193,850 Mine Types
11 Mine Fields Cleared 22
Probability of Detection, Pd 100 Probability
of Detection, Pd(d) 99.9 with
discrimination Clutter Rejection 88.4 Probab
ility of false alarm 10.8 Operational
Improvement 7x-17x
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Looking Ahead

• Expand Current Operations HSTAMIDS OFE process
  to other HMA Organizations
• HALO Trust
• MAG (Mine Advisory Group) Cambodia
• Others in queue.
• Determine best method of utilizing HSTAMIDS
  within each demining organization
• Incorporate lessons learned from each OFE into
  the next
• Compare SOPs between demining organizations and
  adjust/adapt
• Regular training visits to ensure operator
  ability with HSTAMIDS
• Regular assessments of SOPs as OFE progresses
• Explore feasibility of in-house training and
  maintenance

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Contact Information
Robert C. DohenyOffice of the Under Secretary of
Defense for Policy 1 703-692-1626 robert.doheny_at_o
sd.mil
QUESTIONS ?