Mechanical Mine Clearance & Demining Machines

Mechanical mine clearance uses machines – flails, tillers, armoured vehicles, vegetation cutters and ground-preparation equipment – to speed up demining, protect operators and process large or heavily vegetated areas. GEODE advises on the choice and use of machines, integrates them into land release and clearance plans, and supervises their performance, while the DEMINETEC Group combines mechanical and manual means on its clearance projects.

How machines are used in demining

The International Mine Action Standards treat mechanical demining as the use of machines in demining operations. Depending on the threat, the terrain and the tested capability of the machine, machines can be used to cut vegetation and prepare ground for manual teams, to locate hazards and confirm boundaries during technical survey, or to process ground as part of clearance. In most contexts, their output is verified by manual or animal detection teams before land is released.

What GEODE delivers

Needs assessment and machine selection: matching machine type to soil, vegetation, slope, threat and logistics; advice on procurement of specific equipment.
Test and evaluation: planning of site trials to establish what a machine can reliably achieve before accreditation.
Integration into land release: defining where machines are used for ground preparation, technical survey or clearance, and how their work is verified.
SOPs and safety: operating procedures, safety distances, maintenance and recovery of machines in hazardous areas.
Quality management: QA monitoring and QC of mechanically processed land.
Combined operations with the DEMINETEC Group: mechanical and manual demining on the same site.

Applicable standards

Standard	Scope
IMAS 09.50	Mechanical demining (Edition 2)
IMAS 09.10	Clearance requirements
IMAS 08.20	Technical survey
IMAS 07.11	Land release

See IMAS 09.50 Mechanical demining (PDF).

Relevant experience

Advice on the selection and provision of specific materials and equipment for mine action programmes.
Quality management and technical support to demining programmes in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Tajikistan.

GEODE has been part of the DEMINETEC Group since 2022. DEMINETEC's mine clearance approach combines mechanical and manual demining, from armoured machines to manual teams (DEMINETEC mine clearance). The group's international references cover more than 30 countries on five continents (DEMINETEC Group international references).

Frequently asked questions

When is mechanical demining used?

Machines are used where they increase speed or safety: dense vegetation, large areas, ground preparation before manual teams, and technical survey to confirm or reduce hazardous areas. Their use depends on terrain, threat and tested capability.

Does mechanical clearance replace manual clearance?

Rarely on its own. Machines are generally combined with manual or animal detection teams, which verify the processed ground before land is released.

Which standard governs mechanical demining?

IMAS 09.50 Mechanical demining, used together with IMAS 09.10 (clearance requirements), IMAS 08.20 (technical survey) and national standards.

Mechanical mine clearance

How machines are used in demining

What GEODE delivers

Applicable standards

Relevant experience

Frequently asked questions

Related services

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