The study aims to outline the basic issues that affect the safety of mine-removal teams working in conflict affected areas. The study examines the equipment and practices used in manual landmine clearance operations, the working environments, weapons and a variety of other factors – it seeks to define what causes accidents to occur and how injuries are sustained. The research output is a detailed visual systems map containing many sub-studies as well as an electronically simulated environment developed so that scenarios could be created and solutions evaluated in safety. This research informed the development of two simple innovations.

The self formulated brief was developed and directed by opportunities identified through primary research with a number of core stakeholders. The initial aim was broad - to create a scalable multi-level injury prevention strategy (including new innovations based on existing technology) that has the potential to reduce injuries to mine removal teams.

Clearance of landmines is the 9th Millennium Development Goal of Laos and Cambodia. The hazards remain active after wars have ended and remain one of the most enduring barriers to development in post-war territories worldwide. These hidden life-threatening obstacles (categorised as 'access denial weapons') stand between civilians and the ability to fulfil their basic needs, condemning some of the poorest communities of the world to poverty. Manual mine clearance by ‘deminers’ (typically uneducated labourers employed and trained by NGOs) remains the most common method of mine clearance and is currently the only method that fulfils the UN standards ensuring land is safe.

The work is monotonous and often carried out in challenging environmental conditions. The deminer is required to maintain high levels of concentration when scanning the ground with an electronic detector and investigating positive readings with probes and trowels to confirm the presence of a hazard . The accidental detonation of mines is attributed to human error and the injuries sustained can always be prevented if properly specified tools and safe working practices have been adhered to. Solutions are needed to support good practices and foster the safest possible working environment.

Demining is an international and multimillion dollar industry, Many R&D projects are developing unmanned mechanical solutions for removing mines and more efficient scanning technologies for detection including animal and electronic detection. Whilst these have value, they do not provide the full range of required solutions. Manual clearance remains the dominant method of clearance worldwide – in retrospect, very little attention has been given to many (often simple) pieces of equipment used everyday by manual demining teams around the world.

Having no prior experience allowed me to approach the research with fresh eyes. It quickly became apparent opinions differed about the best methods and tools used to conduct clearance and what was stated by some NGOs on paper was contradicted by what was seen in photos. It became clear that many ground level issues were overlooked by a number of key stakeholders and the political nature of funding given to this sector meant some opportunities were unlikely to be explored.

As a design student, my perspective was to direct the development of the project according to the opportunities identified which showed the greatest potential to improve the safety of those working in this field and to be achieved within a 12-24 months timeframe given financial and technological limitations.

An initial literature review set the foundations for the project. A number of sub studies into key areas of 'mine action' where visualised and systemically mapped on a timeline representing the period in time from when a explosive hazard exists until such time as it is detonated or neutralised. Data included the current equipment, procedures (outlined by the UN) and profiles of the hazards.

A selection of specialists and organisations identified in the initial research phase were approached. The role of stakeholders was explored in exploratory research meetings, their individual paths plotted, overlaid and interlinked on the timeline. Interviewees were encouraged to describe personal experiences where accidents had occurred or narrowly avoided, what they did and did not like about current equipment and what they would like to see changed. A large printout of the map was used to guide the conversation and post-it notes utilised to capture comments, placing them immediately onto the map. On a weekly basis the notes where inserted onto a digital copy of the map, acting as long term storage of the work.

The map aims to build a shared understanding of the problem from different perspectives. Working with stakeholders in this way helped to highlight areas of known weakness where designed solutions could help. Patterns began to emerge as clusters of insights, 'hotspots' exposing common issues where accidents took place.

As opportunities were identified, possible interventions were overlaid onto the map, prototyping how they might be incorporated into the current system – a number of elements were identified critical to achieving a safe working environment from which two were chosen for development. Two briefs were formed - one around risk perception focusing on training tools to prevent accidents in the first place; the second one was on the mitigation of injuries with a focus on the tools used to explore abnormal metal detection readings.

Hands-on research was carried out in parallel to the interviews with decommissioned ordinance and training/scanning technologies. Given that the nature, timescale and academic context of the project created a barrier with NGOs, thus preventing field visits, it was clear that research tools would be required to simulate the hazards as part of real life scenarios. Visits to the Mine Advisory Group and specialists allowed me hands on access to their collections. The casing of the ordinance (mainly anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions) were computer modelled, internal structures were modified for 3D printing and outfitted with custom electronics, (including pressure sensors, accelerometers, wireless transmitter for live streaming data) and interchangeable springs (so that decaying parts could be accounted for). The result was a flexible tool for prototyping scenarios in safety. The environment provided insight into the physical strain of the work and the ergonomic needs of new handtools. Ergonomic rigs were later developed and tested. Development focused on usability and the minimal distances needed to ensure the deminer limbs and body were always working outside of a set parameter from the cutting edge of the tool (potential origin of blast).

The value of the project is in driving new innovations that improve the safety of those working in the field of manual mine clearance. It is also about trying to create tools that inform other people working in this area of the ground level problems - It is clear that some common misconceptions have informed the development of well-intentioned but poorly thought out ideas (Media reporting of these 'hero' projects in turn spreading misconceptions) – whilst these projects raise welcome awareness of this issue, they have little true impact on a ground level.

Both the map and simulation tools developed aim to highlight the needs of the user, placing them at the forefront of design outcomes ensuring they are relevant. The document is a knowledge base developed to allow the complex nature of the problem to be navigated at speed, giving context to individual elements in a visual way. The document is not intended to provide a finalized overview of the issue and opportunities, but provides a tool for building a shared understanding which can continue to be developed. The simulation mines also have good potential to be used in R&D projects – being able to bring unsafe remote problems in to academic contexts in a tenable way helping make such situations more tangible and prototypable in a physical way – encouraging development which is in touch with the users needs.

The initial scope of the project was deliberately broad. The aim was to fully understand why accidents are taking place, and develop solutions from a fresh starting point without preconceived ideas. As the project developed, the focus was guided by the opportunities that were felt to have the most potential with regards to immediate impact and scalability.

Like many others my initial instinct was to explore unmanned solutions, without realizing the limitations of such devices placed by cost and environmental factors. As the project progressed, I came to understand why manual clearance has remained the most common method of mine clearance. Deminers can adapt to the varied terrain and make conscious decisions that ensure land has been cleared to an extent that no machines can currently match.

This development took place whilst talking to stakeholders with on the ground experience. As I began to understand the ground level problems it became increasingly evident that small changes were the ones that had the potential to create a large and immediate impact. Manual mine clearance has been the foundation of clearance since the 1970s. There are inherent risks but these can all be managed and the resulting injuries prevented. There are thousands of people who work on the ground as part of humanitarian mine clearance teams who could benefit directly from simple innovations that are in touch with the human needs - far more than this project had the time to cover.