FACILITIES

The test site includes three areas, each representing a different soil type (Lommel sand, local Meerdaal soil and gravel). Each area (sand: 13m x 12m, local Meerdaal soil: 14m x 14m and gravel: 13m x 13m) is subdivided into two metal free sub-areas: a structured sub-area and a tactical sub-area (for blind testing). Each sub-area is composed of cells (1m x 0.5m). In the structured sub-area, all cells contain a known object (mine, UXO or non mine/UXO object) in a known configuration (depth, orientation) which is completely documented in the test facility manual (documentation available at the ITEP Secretariat). In the tactical area, dedicated to blind testing, some cells do not contain objects and others contain one or several. Details on the cells in the tactical area are stored by the Belgian Bomb Disposal Unit and are kept secret.
A specific working area includes one object cell (1m x 0.5 m), an access area (1m x 1m) to access and work on the object cell and a security area (1m x 0.5m) to avoid interactions between objects.
Between the test campaigns, the test areas are covered with a geotextile cover to avoid vegetation and destruction by animals while allowing water penetration.

Sensor platform

A scanning device mounted on a robot can be provided to support trials. A high resolution positioning device (better than 5 mm in X, Y and Z / better than 2' in angle) based on a high resolution camera can be made available if necessary to record manual scanning or to record images from a manual scan.

Test objects

A set of test objects, representing anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and false targets (bullet case, cans, fragments, etc.) have been placed at various depths (0-15 cm) in the test areas. For each object the position, burying depth and the orientation are recorded and photographs are available.

The orientation of each object is defined by three angles. Table 1 provides information for targets inserted in the structural sub-areas only. Details on the targets in the tactical area are stored by the Belgian Bomb Disposal Unit and are kept secreat. However, it is known that next to mines, munition and fragments, objects made out of other materials such as wood, plastic, glass, etc. have also been inserted in these tactical areas.

Supporting equipment

By the end of 2003, the test facility will be equipped with an infrastructure to record environmental parameters (sky radiance, soil moisture, temperature, etc.)

Possibilities for research

Since its construction the test facility has supported several national and international projects such as HUDEM and the European Union HOPE and CLEARFAST projects, for the EC/ESPRIT and EC/IST programs respectively. The access to the infrastructure may be guaranteed to any end-user who wishes to test systems against pseudo-real conditions. The user will not be allowed to change the set-up of the infrastructure without the agreement of the responsible, but will be free to organize the type of test he/she wants to perform.

Table 1: list of test objects available in the structured sub-areas for the different soil types