Integrated detection of landmines using neutron backscattering and magnetic gradient techniques

Abstract

The main problem in demining process is to locate and characterize the landmines in the ground, as their different types and sizes make them difficult to be detected using a single technique. In this paper we present results of an experimental study of integration between Neutron Backscattering and magnetic gradiometer techniques. The experiment was established in a test site located in Cairo using different types of landmines buried at different depths. The Neutron Backscattering technique provided information about the hydrogen content for the buried object and was successful to detect almost 85% of the used objects. The magnetic gradiometer detected most of the objects with ferro-metallic contents. Integration of both techniques increases the detectability to reach 100%. Such integration is very effective in decreasing the high false alarm rate resulting from the magnetometers sensitivity to any metal debris and detects landmines of relatively deeper depths which are not sensed by Neutron Backscattering sensor. The results suggest multi-sensors detection approach of landmines would help greatly in the demining process.