Electromagnetic induction spectroscopy for clearing landmines

TLDR

Landmines, estimated at 110 million worldwide, cause over 26 000 casualties annually, yet their removal is hampered by frequent false alarms, prompting interest in broadband electromagnetic induction spectroscopy (EMIS) as a promising detection and identification technology. The study aims to lower false‑alarm rates, thereby cutting the costs of landmine clearance. The authors integrate EMIS with a broadband EMI sensor to investigate its potential for detecting landmines, unexploded ordnance, and concealed weapons at security checkpoints.

Abstract

An estimated 110 million landmines, mostly antipersonnel mines laid in over 60 countries, kill or maim over 26000 people a year. One of the dilemmas for removing landmines is the amount of false alarms in a typical minefield. Broadband electromagnetic induction spectroscopy (EMIS) is a promising technology that can both detect and identify buried objects as landmines. By reducing the number of false alarms, this approach significantly reduces costs associated with landmine removal. Combining the EMIS technology and a broadband EMI sensor, the scientific phenomenology that has potential applications for identifying landmines, unexploded ordnance, and hidden weapons at security checkpoints can now be explored.