This definition of mine action tasks is based on a series of interviews with mine action programme managers and support staff working on mine and UXO problems in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Cambodia and Laos between 1996 and 1999. It is intended as a guide for analysing and modelling mine and UXO clearance programmes with the aim of assisting improvements.
(Downloadable Word97/98 document with index)
Mine Action Centre Tasks (Emergency)
Recruit and obtain level 1 survey and emergency clearanmce teams
Prepare regional plans and allocate teams for level 1 survey
Recruit emergency clearance teams
Allocate short-term tasks until priority-based task allocation can be undertaken.
Establish temporary MAC
Accommodation, power supplies, computer network, internet connection
Telephone, data, HF, VHF field communications
Logistics, re-supply, inventory spares etc.
Communications with peace keeping military units, commanders etc.
GIS equipment and software
Set up GIS computer database,
Obtain digital map data, satellite photographs for terrain
Establish validity of maps (age, likely changes etc.)
Define survey reporting format, database format
Land may be classified as: (according to UN standards)
Definitely affected, hazardous (mines located or visible)
Probably affected (evidence of mine effects, accident reports)
Possibly affected (evidence of military activity, fighting in area)
No evidence of hazards
Communicate data reporting format to survey teams
Communicate data reporting needs to peace keeping military units, commanders etc.
Establish liaison officers to pass on data
Collect level 1 survey data from teams
Enter level 1 data into GIS
Determine level 2 database format
Define level 2 survey requirements
Determine priorities for emergency assistance with civilian authorities
Basic infrastructure access, roads, water supply, drainage
Land required for refugee camps, accommodation etc.
Displaced people, access to homes, gardens, cemetriescemeteries, memorials
Remaining infrastructure, agricultural land
Remaining land affected by mines
Mobilise offshore and local resources for mine action
Donor governments
World bank
NGO's - NPA, HALO Trust, MAG, etc.
Trainers, instructors for field and admin/support staff
Technical advisers, UXO expertise
Equipment suppliers or donors
Detectors
Transport vehicles - specialised with mine & explosion protection
Computers, software
Radio communications
Survey equipment (GPS, i.dGPS;, dGPS base stations, levels, ranging theodolites etc)
Machinery - excavators, flails adapted for mine clearance
Spare parts, support/maintenance supplies
Mine dogs, handlers
Procedure manuals, documentation, mine/UXO recognition resources
Local resources
Motivated, capable and widely respected leaders
Most essential, needed as soon as possible to locate other local resources and take executive positions in MAC.
Government institution with appropriate support for longer term MAC
Workshop, technical support facilities
Demobilised military personnel
Police
Engineers, technically qualified staff, surveyors, instructors
Paramedics, basic medical supplies
Base hospital facilities for emergency treatment of deminers
Evacuation plans
Adminstration and logistics staff, drivers, accountants
Interpreters
Transport vehicles
Communication equipment
Survey equipment
Protective equipment
Uniforms, footwear, headgear, rainwear
Badges, flags, signs, markers, rope, posts, paint (basic equipment supplies)
Training facilities, training camp & accommodation
Locate longer term regional base facilities
Computer-capable staff
Determine additional offshore needs
(Other needs which cannot be met from local resources)
Recruit and Train MAC staff
Set up initial organisation structure and fill key posts
Train staff
Determine training needs
Arrange training programmes staged with operational needs
Determine outcome reviews, skill levels etc.
Set up field organisation
Set up initial level 1 survey, level 2 survey, UXO and mine clearance teams
Set up clearance training facility
Train clearance teams
Verify performance after training
Hand over MAC to local executive staff
Mine Awareness (Initial)
Determine priority of mine awareness needs
Level 1 survey data (if available) to pinpoint regions of greatest concern
Government, institutions, police
Community leaders, school teachers
Displaced people, refugees
Recruit mine awareness instructors to train field trainers
Obtain mine awareness aids, posters, models
Locate training centres, arrange courses
Run trainer courses, recruit staff to run organisation
Plan outcome assessment process
Initiate outcome assessment
Mine Action Centre Tasks (Long Term)
Determine priorities for mine action with civilian authorities and donor agencies
Classify affected land
Basic infrastructure access, roads, water supply, drainage
Land required for refugee camps, accommodation etc.
Displaced people, access to homes, gardens, cemetries, memorials
Economic infrastructure, agricultural land
Other land affected by mines
Agree socio-economic measures of 'value' to prioritizse clearance tasks
Intrinsic land value
Value of unrestricted access to land
Economic value of partial access to land
Is partial clearance enough? Is total clearance required?
Social value of access to land
Is partial clearance enough? Is total clearance required?
Further investment needed to realise land value?
If further investment
Determine likely clearance costs for different land types
Classify land according to level 2 survey cost and preliminary estimate of clearance cost
Contaminated area definition, availability of maps
Photographs of site?
Terrain access (roads, seasonal access, base facilities, communications, water supply and food supplies)
Likely type and extent of contamination (UXO? AT mines?)
Terrain access (vegetation clearance machinery)
Vegetation cover, cost of removal for survey
Appropriate marking technologies, supplies
Fragment density expected - metal detectors usable?
Suitability for area reduction by mine dogs?
Suitability for MEDDS and other explosive detection techniques?
Suitability for mechanical area reduction?
Estimated survey cost
Preliminary estimate of clearance cost
Produce priority list of survey and clearance tasks
Refine clearance cost estimate (after level 2 survey)
Contaminated area definition, availability of maps
Photographs of site?
Terrain access (roads, seasonal access, base facilities, communications, water and food supplies)
Likely type and extent of contamination (UXO? AT mines?)
Terrain access (vegetation clearance machinery)
Vegetation cover, cost of removal for survey
Appropriate marking technologies, supplies
Fragment density expected - metal detectors usable?
Suitability for clearance by mine dogs?
Suitability for MEDDS and other explosive detection techniques?
Suitability for mechanical pre-clearance?
Area requiring manual clearance
Prodding only
Prodding with metal detectors
Manual follow-up after mechanical clearance
Preliminary estimate of clearance cost
Maintain GIS computer database
Obtain any improvements to digital map data, satellite photographs for terrain awareness
Review survey reporting format, database format
Land may be classified as: (according to UN standards)
Definitely affected, hazardous (mines located or visible)
Probably affected (evidence of mine effects, accident reports)
Possibly affected (evidence of military activity, fighting in area)
No evidence of hazards
Communicate data reporting format to survey teams
Communicate data reporting needs to peace keeping military units, commanders etc, and other relevant authorities and possibly other demining agencies (such as companies, independent NGO's).
Establish liaison officers to pass on data
Collect level 1 survey data from teams
Enter level 1 data into GIS
Review level 2 database format
Define level 2 survey requirements
Collect and enter level 2 survey data
Define and review clearance data collection format
Collect and enter clearance data
Prepare updated database files for distribution to field offices
Prepare situation maps as needed by MAC staff and donors
Prepare numerical and graphical progress reports
Cross-check data for consistency, errors
Back up data regularly and practice disaster (data loss) recovery procedures
Train computer staff to enhance skills
Maintain computer systems, network at base and in field offices
Upgrade software and operating systems as required at base and in field offices
Maintain adequate supplies of spare computers, parts and consumables
Maintain Standing operating Procedures (SOP's)
Review procedures with technical advisers, team leaders and independent organisations
If necessary, conduct trials with improved procedures
Compile and maintain written procedure definitions
Translate relevant parts of procedures into local language(s)
Publish and distribute procedures and updates
Provide training on procedure changes
Accounting and Financial Controls
Define and implement policy for financial accountability
Recruit appropriate support staff, both ex-patriate mentors and local trainees (if no qualified staff available)
Draw up model work contracts
Qualify subcontractors, NGO's
Leadership, experience
Administrative structure, accountability
Technical capacity
Quality assurance process
Define objective performance criteria
Provide training in accounting and auditing procedures and accountability requirements
Review accounts and contracts for compliance
Negotiate work contracts with NGO's and subcontractors
Agree objective performance criteria and contract conditions
Review past performance using objective criteria where possible
Review internal cost structures and process for improving cost-effectiveness
Execute survey, clearance, training and monitoring tasks
Survey Tasks
Set up team base facilities, accommodation
Issue team with maps and level 1 survey data
Relocate team to base
Preliminary survey of site
Repeat level 1 survey of local contacts and returnees
Send revisions of level 1 survey to MAC
Set up and clear site for survey operation
Vehicle parking area
Rest, eating, recreation area
Latrine area
Explosive store
Central ordnance disposal site (if apporpriate)
Control and observation points
Define and clear initial perimeter
Record daily progress, vegetation removed, markings etc.
Clear cross lanes if required
Clear civilan access paths if required
Assess clearance task
Vegetation condition
Ground type
Mine types and probable locations
Clearance method(s)
Select area reduction tasks
Area Reduction
Mechanical
Dogs
Manual follow-up and clearance verification
Explosive device render-safe process
Maintain marking of uncleared perimeters and safe lanes
Collect and count (or weigh) metal fragments
Maintain daily records of clearance progress, vegetation removal and other completed tasks
On-site review of procedures and safety issues
Maintain demining tools, calibrate detectors
Contaminated Area Survey
Devices found during perimeter clearance area reduction
Re-define boundary after area reduction
Mark perimeter(s) of clearance task(s) remaining
Prepare final survey map
Prepare final survey data and return to MAC
Clearance Tasks
Set up team base facilities, accommodation
Issue team with maps and level 2 survey data
Relocate team to base
Set up and clear site for clearance operation
Prepare vehicle parking area
Rest, eating, recreation area
Latrine area
Explosive store
Central ordnance disposal site (if appropriate)
Control and observation points
Preliminary survey of site
Locate start point
Check level 2 survey data and confirm boundary clear.
Check perimeter markings for clearance task and repair/replace as required
Send revisions to survey data to MAC for checking
Re-assess clearance task
Vegetation condition
Ground type
Mine types and probable locations
Clearance method(s)
Select area clearance tasks
Area Clearance
Clear safe lanes and vegetation for access
Manual clearance
Mechanical assisted clearance
Dog clearance
Explosive device render-safe process
Manual follow-up and clearance verification
Maintain marking of uncleared perimeters and safe lanes
Collect and count (or weigh) metal fragments
Maintain daily records of clearance progress, vegetation removal and other completed tasks
On-site review of procedures and safety issues
Maintain demining tools, calibrate detectors
Area Quality Check
Select and mark areas for quality control check
Manual check of marked areas
Prepare final clearance data and return to MAC
Mechanized Support
Allocate available machines to priority tasks
Review current clearance and area reduction tasks
Assess whether mechaniszed support is useful
Review site locations and machine availability
Plan transit between sites on daily basis
Arrange schedules for activities which precede mechaniszed operations, and follow-up activities with relevant team leaders
Assign machines to clearance and area reduction tasks on priority basis
Maintenance and support
Scheduled maintenance
Repair machines after breakdowns at base
Send repair teams to machines which cannot be brought to base workshop
Review spare part stock levels and re-order when needed
Ensure adequate supplies and quality of fuel at machine work sites
Train drivers/operators as required
Record all maintenance and operational activities
Execute mechaniszed clearance tasks
Dog Support
Maintain dog breeding and training programme
Train handlers
Review requests for dog team support in level 1 survey, area reduction and clearance tasks.
Transport dogs and handlers to work sites
Maintain field support bases and accommodation as required
Training Tasks
Demining basic training
Supervisor training
Team leadership training
Radio communications training
Survey training
Monitoring Tasks
Accident investigation
Minefield incidents in survey or clearance teams
Civilian incidents in cleared areas
Quality checks
Level 2 survey checks by clearance teams
Clearance checks on land declared clear by survey or clearance teams
Mine awareness monitoring
Civilian incident reporting and data collection
Incidents in declared hazardous areas
Incidents in areas throught to be free of hazards
Procedure compliance
Compliance by contractors with their certified procedures
Generate medium term plans and resource requirements
Prepare detailed plans based on prioritiszed clearance and survey tasks
Prepare budgets and annual work plans
Progress reports
Tasks completed
Comparison between objectives and actual progress
Photography
High quality publication
Liaise with donors on likely contributions and donor perceptions of need
Secure medium term funding and schedule survey and clearance tasks
Convene and attend donor meetings
Attend conferences, UN meetings
Mine Awareness
Determine priority of mine awareness needs
Level 1 survey data to pinpoint regions of greatest concern
Government, institutions, police
Community leaders, school teachers
Displaced people, refugees
Recruit mine awareness instructors to train field trainers
Obtain mine awareness aids, posters, models
Locate training centres, arrange courses
Run trainer courses, recruit staff to run organisation
Plan outcome assessment process
Initiate outcome assessment
Review training courses when outcome assessment available
Equipment Re-supply, Procurement
Maintain awareness of equipment capabilities
Prepare 'Statements of Requirements' SoR
Evaluate equipment protrotypes from suppliers or manufacturers in field conditions
Evaluate concepts and prototypes from research institutes
Attend conferences for updates and to inform supply and research community of current needs
Prepare invitations for tenders for new equipment supply
Evaluate responses to tenders - conduct field comparisons if needed
Review supplier qualificiations
Place orders for equipment
Review land use after clearance
Conduct cost/benefit analysis for refining socio-economic value estimates and to improve priority planning
Advocacy
Build working relationships with local community leaders, faction and military leaders and, when the political process 'heals', emerging national leadership.
Build relationships with actual and potential donors
Escort representatives from donors, local and national leaders on visits to mine action operations in progress
Provide opportunities for military leaders to review effects of previous use of mines and formulate alternative doctrines
Work with international community to strengthen understanding of the mine problem, its effects, and solutions.