Analyzing Functionality of Landmines and Clearance Depth as a Tool to Define Clearance Methodology

Mine contamination from World War II remains in Skallingen on Denmark’s western coast. Skallingen’s dynamic coastal environment caused the mines to shift in the soil, and time, salt water and soil depth rendered some of the landmines inactive. Comparative digital-terrain models, in addition to surveys and analysis of fuze and detonator functionality, enabled clearance personnel to establish clearance depth and related criteria and facilitated efficient clearance efforts. As a result, the last functional mines were cleared in June 2012 after six years of effort.