Purpose:

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose a threat to both human life and the environment. Literally, many millions of UXO are located in the U.S. on active test and training ranges and Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS), where bombing and gunnery were once conducted. The closing of some of these bombing and gunnery ranges and their transition back to civilian use requires that UXO must be cleared to the extent required for the defined use and safety of the civilian population. This means that both surface and subsurface UXO must be safely and economically removed. It is the purpose of this project to demonstrate the use of laser radiation delivered via a fiber-optics cable to create low-order neutralization that will both minimize damage to the environment and ensure greater safety for those performing clearance.

Description:

In this joint project, SPARTA, Inc. and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will utilize the third generation laser technology (diode lasers) to demonstrate a safe, fast, and effective method for neutralizing surface as well as subsurface UXO. In this concept, the diode laser radiation will be propagated to the target UXO via a fiber-optic cable. The use of fiber-optic cable to relay the laser radiation onto the target implies that the UXO in question can be located behind a tree, boulder or at the bottom of a hole that has been excavated with a minimum amount of the UXO exposed. Since an electrically efficient diode laser is used, the complete system will be self-contained on a John Deere "Gator" 4X6 all terrain vehicle with a utility trailer. A fiber-optic cable between 100 to 200 meters long will be used to propagate the laser radiation to the target UXO at Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) or FUDS cleanup sites.

Benefits:

The overriding benefit to the Department of Defense (DoD) is the enhanced safety it provides to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians and the public. The neutralization of UXO via lasers with low-order detonations produced reduces the fragment range of the UXO, hence the potential for injury. Laser neutralization will drastically reduce or eliminate the need for use of C-4 plastic explosives and perforator charges, thereby reducing the amount of environmental contamination generated and the costs associated with purchase, storage, and transportation of C-4/perforators. It is anticipated that the low-order detonation will permit reductions in the lethal keep out range for clearing operations, which will permit more efficient use of manpower. In addition, the low-order detonation will reduce the amount of protective measures required to minimize collateral damage. The low-order detonation will create larger neutralization fragments that will be easier to remove. This will save additional manpower and costs and make a site less difficult for geophysical surveys and removal actions. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2007)

Contact:

Mr. Scott Millhouse, PE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Engineering and Support Center - Huntsville
ED-CS-D
P.O. Box 1600
Huntsville, Alabama 35807-4301
Telephone: (256) 895-1607
Fax: (256) 865-1602
E-mail: scott.d.millhouse@hnd01.usace.army.mil