Advanced UXO Detection/Discrimination Technology Demonstration

Abstract

Abstract : The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) funded the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV) (lead agency), the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), and the U.S. Army Environmental Center (AEC) to design and conduct controlled demonstrations of advanced unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection and discrimination technologies at the U.S. Army Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) in Madison, Indiana, during FY 00 and at the Island of Kaho olawe in Hawaii during FY 01. At JPG, these technology demonstrations were conducted at three 1-hectare areas located near the test site used during the JPG Phase IV demonstrations. At Kaho olawe, the demonstrations were conducted at two prepared sites. The demonstrations were designed to evaluate the capabilities of state-of-the-art technologies to detect, discriminate, and identify buried UXO in areas containing high concentrations of natural (magnetic rocks/soils) and man-made (munitions fragments) clutter. This report documents the results of these demonstrations and provides data to aid the government in selecting effective and efficient systems for UXO detection and discrimination in difficult magnetic sites such as those encountered at Kaho olawe Island. The Department of Defense (DoD) is involved in UXO site remediation efforts where rapid transition of advanced technologies can potentially improve UXO detection efficiency, save substantial sums of money by reducing false alarms, and significantly expedite the transfer of lands for re-use. One of the most prominent of these efforts is the ongoing UXO cleanup of the Kaho olawe bombing ranges. The major difficulty with this site is that the significant magnetic anomalies from geologic sources and near-surface metal fragments make traditional magnetometer-based surveys impractical.