TABLE OF CONTENTS There are some key issues that the developer of GPR mine detection technology should identify before any project is started. These relate to the specification for the equipment performance, the selling price for the system and the operator requirements for operation, training and in-service support. Too many mine detector development projects have failed because the basic disciplines of project assessment and management have been neglected.
No major GPR mine detection project should be started without a clear User Requirements Document (URD) and from this follows a System Requirements Document (SRD). As far as the user is concerned the parameters that matter are listed in Table 12.1 which, for illustration, has been geared around a hand-held detector.
| Parameter | Typical issues |
|---|---|
| Environmental performance | Max. and min. temperatures Dust protection Water protection Shock and vibration |
| Ergonomics | Use by female and male deminers. Controls, balance etc. |
| Weight | Use by female and male deminers. Less than 5 kg? |
| Battery life | 12, 24, 48 h, 1 month, 2 months, D cells? |
| Serviceability and maintainability | Can it be repaired in the field? Can it be repaired in Third World workshop? |
| Upgradeability | Can new software and hardware upgrades be field implemented? |
| Operating bounds | Does the detector warn operator when soil is too lossy? |
| Variance in unit performance | How does the detection performance vary from unit to unit? |
| Interference | Do power lines and mobile phones interfere? |
| Compatibility | Do units interfere with one another and at what distance? |
