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Chad

HI drones locate landmines buried underground

Xavier Depreytere, head of innovation projects at HI, explains why the drone demining project launched by HI in 2018 is a world first.

After 18 months of testing in the Chadian desert, Humanity & Inclusion has introduced a number of innovations and revolutionized humanitarian demining.

Drones to locate landmines

We are the first in the world to be able to locate the exact position of mines buried in a real minefield using drones equipped with infrared cameras. Hundreds of mines laid decades ago, buried under the sand and invisible to the naked eye, have been found thanks to this innovative technique.

Largest map

We are also the first to conduct large-scale drone mapping of hazardous areas. In northern Chad, we have mapped an area equivalent to 50 linear kilometers. Another world first.

New operating rules

We have designed and applied new operating rules for mine clearance experts in order to incorporate the use of drones. All mine clearance operations must follow extremely strict procedures to protect the safety of deminers. We have developed new procedures for drone operations. Another revolution in humanitarian demining.

Extreme testing conditions

Together with our partner Mobility Robotics, we carried out tests using drones for mine clearance operations under extreme conditions in the middle of the Chadian desert, where temperatures sometimes exceed 120 degrees fahrenheit. These tests were logistically very challenging and put our teams and equipment to the test.

Accessible

All technologies we have developed to incorporate drones into mine clearance operations are accessible and easy to use. The equipment is commercially available and low-cost. We trained Chadian personnel, who were soon able to pilot the drones and use them in real-field conditions.