2.USING THIS HANDBOOK
Image 1. An IED component camouflaged in debris identified by MA staff due to a sign (colour change and regularity)
Mine action (MA) organisations have for many years used indicators and signs to assist in the identification of IEDs and other EO during survey and clearance. This handbook aims to provide a handrail to standardise the approaches used by the MA sector in this area by sharing good practice and sectorial norms. The knowledge and skills associated with both IED indicators and signs, helps MA staff and organisations make better evidence-informed decisions at a variety of levels. At the operational level they can be used as evidence in the categorisation, classification and definition of hazardous areas. At the individual level of a deminer / searcher or IEDD operator they can be used to help make decisions related to how very specific tasks are conducted.
ׁ HINT. Ground sign awareness is sometimes simply referred to as the “absence of the normal; presence of the abnormal”.
This handbook is split into two sections:
IED INDICATORS
This section examines terrain-based indicators that can be used as part of a threat assessment process. These indicators are frequently used to identify locations where the probability of IED contamination may be higher than in others. This section will be particularly useful during the national threat analysis and operational threat assessment processes described in IMAS 07.14 Risk Management in Mine Action. Image 2 shows a track junction which as a slowdown point is a terrain-based indicator where potential IED contamination may be located. The knowledge and implementation of IED indicators like the one explained, helps to avoid risks, remove risk sources and minimise the likelihood of related incidents in operational threat assessments.
Using this handbook
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