Novel geolocation technology for geophysical sensors for detection and discrimination of unexploded ordnance

Abstract

Reliable and precise navigation technology is essential for robust detection and discrimination of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in a wide range of field conditions. The detection and remediation of munitions and explosives-of-concern (MEC) on ranges, munitions burning and open detonation areas, and burial pits is one of the US department of defensepsilas (DoD) most pressing environmental problems. The MEC characterization and remediation activities using currently available technologies often yield unsatisfactory results, and are extremely expensive, due mainly to the inability of current technology to detect all MEC present at a site, and the inability to discriminate between MEC and non-hazardous items due mainly to insufficient accuracy of georeferencing of the geophysical images. As a result, most of the costs (90%) of MEC site remediation are currently spent on excavating targets that pose no threat. Thus, the goal of the research presented here, supported by a DoDpsilas strategic environmental research and development program (SERDP) grant, is to design and demonstrate a high-accuracy hybrid navigation and georeferencing device based on multi-sensor integration, which can meet the stringent requirements of a man-portable geophysical mapping system in open and impeded environments, and hence to lower the cost of remediation by improving the geolocation accuracy of MEC discrimination. This paper describes a hybrid system based on quadruple integration of GPS, inertial technology (IMU), pseudolites (PL) and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology to improve the current geolocation capabilities at MEC sites. The concept design of the system, the algorithmic approach to sensor integration, with a special emphasis on TLS integration with GSP/IMU/PL, and the preliminary performance assessment based on simulations are presented.