Manual demining
Manual demining is performed by professional and skilled clearance teams who were trained for this purpose in military or civilian training courses.
During the clearing process a variety of mine location measures are used, including:
Mine detectors
Locating devices
Prodders
Additional mine detection measures
This clearance method obviously exposes the demining personnel to great risk. Therefore, the demining personnel must be highly skillful and the process requires strict quality controls and attention to professionalism and safety in the process. Eventually, the desired result of manual demining as well as that which is expected of mechanical demining, is an area free of mines and UXOs.
It should also be noted that Israel has many areas and terrains in which the manual clearance method is the only demining option, and therefore this method is often implemented.
Mechanical demining
Mechanical demining is a process primarily based on machines and mechanical engineering equipment which underwent adjustments (in size, filtering and separation capabilities, and more) to facilitate their use for mechanical demining in minefields. In addition, remote controlled demining machines controlled by professional and experienced personnel are used to assist in the demining process.
The mechanical method will be usually chosen when the mine is non-metallic and cannot be detected using a detector of any kind, when the soil does not allow manual demining, or when it is estimated that the manual demining process involves a very high level of risk.
During the mechanical demining process a variety of mechanical and technological tools are used, including:
Land survey measures before the demining process is launched;
Measures used to prepare the ground for the demining process;
Machines which sift the excavated soil and separate the mines and stones from the clean material which is returned to the field and shredding the products to the desired size (industrial sifting and shredding).
It is important to note that the personnel operating and supervising the mechanical means is also exposed to risks. Nevertheless, this method is safer than the manual method.