Non-Technical Survey: The Cornerstone of Humanitarian Demining

Oleksandr Romaniuk, UDS's Economics Director, has written a blog post for OBOZ.UA explaining the concept of non-technical surveys of territories, their necessity, the main stages of NTS, their duration, and the cost of this service in the humanitarian demining market.

The Essence of NTS

As of today, approximately 30% of Ukraine's territory is potentially contaminated with explosive remnants of war (ERW). Demining Ukrainian lands is a crucial component in the long process of Ukraine's recovery. One of the first and most important stages of this process is a non-technical survey of territories (NTS), which allows determining the level of contamination of the territory with explosive objects and forming areas for further demining. The essence of NTS lies in collecting information about the presence or absence of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in a certain area. NTS aims to identify potentially contaminated areas (PCAs) and confirmed contaminated areas (CAs), as well as providing recommendations for further technical surveys and clearance/demining operations.

Stages of Non-Technical Survey and Their Duration

1. Analytical Work (Desk-based Preparation; Duration: 3-5 working days). This stage involves a preliminary review of available information sources such as maps and satellite imagery, if possible, reports on previous surveys and demining operations in adjacent areas, data from local government bodies regarding hostilities, incidents involving the detonation of people or animals, and so on. The goal is to gather as much information as possible about the history of the territory's contamination and potential threats, and to plan further on-site NTS.
2. Fieldwork (Depending on the area and the amount of evidence, it is possible to survey 20 hectares in 1 day).After desk-based preparation, specialists go to the site to conduct a direct survey of the territory. During this stage, they inspect the area, clarify the information gathered at the previous stage, and communicate with local residents who can provide additional data on the presence of mines or explosive remnants of war. This also includes the analysis of physical signs that may indicate contamination (e.g., trenches, blast marks, visible remnants of explosive ordnance, etc.). In addition, NTS teams mark hazardous areas to reduce the risk of accidental entry by civilians.
3. Analysis of the information obtained on-site and report preparation (the process takes 1-3 working days).After completing the fieldwork, specialists prepare reports summarizing the survey results and determining the status of the territory as either a potentially contaminated area (PCA) or a confirmed contaminated area (CCA). The reports indicate the boundaries of the PCA/CCA, provide recommendations for further actions, and include maps and photographs to support the findings.

Resources and Equipment Used in NTS

Of course, people are the primary resource. Qualified specialists with experience in humanitarian demining are involved in conducting NTS. These include analysts, geoinformation systems specialists, and deminers who can assess risks, work with various information sources, and communicate with the population.

Next, let's talk about technical means:

1. Telecommunications equipment: Radios, telephones, and other means for uninterrupted communication between teams and the central office, as well as information recording devices.
2. Transportation: For transporting specialists to the survey site.
3. Navigation equipment: Unmanned aerial vehicles, GPS devices, laser rangefinders, and mapping tools for precise fixing of the coordinates of detected ERW and boundaries of potentially hazardous areas.
4. Protective equipment: Although NTS does not involve direct work with ERW, NTS teams must be equipped with protective gear and other special equipment necessary in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Cost of NTS

Approximately 40% of the cost of NTS services is labor costs. Considering the workload during the provision of non-technical survey services, the cost of such services on the humanitarian demining market today ranges from 3,000 to 7,500 UAH per hectare, depending on the area being surveyed.

For example, according to public data from existing relevant tenders, the cost of NTS from LLC "NIBULON" ranges from 3,287 to 4,431 UAH per hectare; LLC "Humanitarian Safety" - around 3,620 UAH per hectare; LLC "International Demining Group" - about 3,786 UAH per hectare; LLC "Patron Demining" - about 7,500 UAH per hectare; LLC "Ukrainian Demining Agency" - 3,824 UAH per hectare.

The cost of conducting NTS by the company "Ukrainian Demining Services" is 3,824 UAH per hectare.

"A quality NTS is the key to the safe future use of land"

NTS is a crucial stage in the demining process, as it provides information on the presence, type, and distribution of explosive remnants of war and surrounding conditions. Moreover, NTS allows for an effective assessment of the scale of contamination, prioritizes land clearance, and plans further actions for the removal, reduction, or cleaning of territories for their subsequent effective use.

Without a clear understanding of the boundaries of a contaminated area and the types of ERW present there, it is possible to not only expend significant resources during humanitarian demining but also, and more critically, miss contaminated areas. To prevent this, non-technical surveys involving qualified specialists are used.

Thus, this stage is fundamental, as the subsequent demining work depends on its results. In essence, a quality NTS is the key to the safe future use of land by farmers.

Finally, I would like to emphasize that it is very dangerous for farmers to conduct demining on their own without the necessary skills, qualifications, and equipment. This is a matter of life and death.

Unfortunately, "Ukrainian Demining Services" often encounter situations where farmers try to demine their lands on their own without conducting an NTS. The consequences can be tragic.

I would like to remind everyone that since the end of August, the government has increased the amount of compensation for farmers, and now the compensation for farmers for demining agricultural land is 100%.

Farmers whose lands are located in de-occupied territories and where, after a non-technical survey, contamination or probable contamination with explosive objects is confirmed, can participate in the compensation program. However, it is important to note that the identified areas must be located outside a 20-kilometer zone from the contact line or state border.

Therefore, do not try to save money by risking your own life and health. Submit an application and receive land that is truly safe for cultivation.

After all, without a quality NTS and subsequent land clearance, full recovery of Ukraine is impossible.

This article was originally published on OBOZ.UA https://war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/netehnichne-obstezhennya-teritorij-pri-rozminuvanni-scho-tse-take-i-chomu-bez-nogo-ne-obijtisya.htm