In a first-of-its-kind development, a group of researchers has revealed an advanced laser technology that could radically improve land mine detection, presenting a safer and more efficient way to clear millions of them that threaten conflict zones worldwide.
Lambdis Technology
The Laser Multibeam Differential Interferometry Sensor, or Lambdis, is a new system developed by scientists at the University of Mississippi led by Vyacheslav Aranchuk.
As WIRED reports, this advanced sensor technology uses lasers and vibrations to detect both metal and plastic land mines from a notable distance.
The system works by emitting laser beams onto the ground while simultaneously sending out vibrations into the soil. These vibrations interact with the materials buried beneath the surface, creating various frequencies, that are then detected by the laser.
The reflected laser light is analyzed to produce an image mapping the location of the buried objects in real-time, allowing land mines to be located without the need for direct human interaction. This is critical since the traditional de-mining methods, including the use of handheld metal detectors, can be dangerous and ineffective, especially in cases of plastic mines or large areas.
Read More: Researchers Develop Remote-Sensing Drones to Identify Landmines, Something that May Help Ukraine
Why is This Laser Tech a Game Changer?
The global land mine crisis continues to be a dire issue since over 110 million land mines are buried in more than 70 countries. Every year, thousands of innocent civilians, including children, are killed or injured by these hidden dangers.
Actually, the United Nations reports that civilians account for 84 percent of land mine casualties, with 50 percent of those victims being children.
While it costs as little as $3 to make a single land mine, removing one can cost as much as $1,000. With traditional detection methods relying on human expertise and equipment such as handheld metal detectors, the process is slow, costly, and exceedingly dangerous.
Lambdis promises to change the way we approach land mine removal, offering a faster, more accurate, and safer alternative.
How Does Lambdis Work?
The Lambdis system works by emitting a 34 x 23 matrix of laser beams that scan the ground in parallel while simultaneously sending vibrations into the soil. These vibrations cause different materials underground to resonate at unique frequencies.
As the laser reflects off the soil, it captures these vibrations and produces an image, mapping the objects beneath the surface with remarkable accuracy. This new method has several advantages over traditional metal detectors, such as false positives resulting from sensitivity to any kind of metallic object that is not necessarily a landmine.
Unlike the ground-penetrating radar that tends to be highly soil-dependent, this tool is known to provide reliable detection while having fewer false alarms; hence, this is incredibly promising not only in the detection of land mines but also for the assessment of any other buried object or monitoring of structural integrity in civil engineering projects.
More General Applicability of Lambdis Technology
The potential applications of Lambdis extend far beyond land mine detection. Researchers believe the system could be used in a variety of industries, including civil engineering for inspecting bridges and tunnels for damage, automotive and aerospace industries for assessing materials, and even medical fields for advanced imaging.
The team plans to test its functionality in diverse soil types and various use cases, expanding its capabilities further.
Land Mine Removal Should Be Prioritized
Land mine detection has been a very laborious and dangerous activity, but with technologies such as Lambdis, the future looks much brighter.
More importantly, the researchers will continue to improve the system. The tech is also promising in greatly reducing the risks associated with land mine removal and saving lives in areas affected by conflict. This could be the key to clearing the millions of mines that still pose a threat to civilians worldwide, making the world a safer place for all.
