Fundamental stage. What is a non-technical survey of territories and why it cannot be done without during demining

According to the UN, it may take a hundred years to completely demine Ukraine using traditional methods. But Ukrainian experts, who are constantly improving the process, assume that the territory can be demined in 10 years.

However, in any case, a non-technical survey of the territories must first take place. What it is and why you should not skip this stage during demining, says Radio NV.

Demining of Ukrainian lands is a significant component for the recovery of Ukraine, which requires multi-stage methodical work.

One of the first important stages of this process is a non-technical survey of territories – NTO. This is a process that allows you to understand the limits and nature of land contamination with explosive objects and to form areas for further demining. That is, this stage is fundamental, since further demining work depends on its results.

A non-technical survey helps not only to save resources, but also to protect the lives of those who will be engaged in further demining.

The NTO process includes several main steps — receiving the task, preparing for the trip, meeting with the community, going to the area, mapping, marking territories that contain explosive objects, etc.

The work of specialists in non-technical examination has its own challenges. One of the most serious is the speed of completing tasks. Farmers and local residents are often eager to return to work on their land as soon as possible, and this puts additional pressure on NGO teams.

Another challenge is mistrust on the part of local residents. In the conditions of war and occupation, people often lost trust in any external organizations. And this sometimes creates difficulties in gathering information.

During the non-technical survey, the psychological support of local residents is of great importance. People who have survived the occupation or witnessed hostilities are often in a state of great stress.

The use of the latest technologies has become an integral part of the process of non-technical examination. Such technologies include drones, GPS navigators, and artificial intelligence.

The use of drones, for example, allows you to quickly and safely inspect large areas, take aerial photographs and detect suspicious objects at a considerable distance.

The use of artificial intelligence helps in processing large volumes of data collected during the survey. This allows for faster and more accurate analysis of information and decision-making on further actions.

One of the key elements of successful NTO implementation is cooperation with local communities and self-government bodies. This cooperation begins at the stage of preparation for the survey, when a team of specialists contacts community leaders, land managers and other representatives of local authorities.

Cooperation with organizations involved in gas distribution, electricity supply and other critical infrastructure is also important. For example, before starting work in areas where gas or electricity networks pass, NTO teams receive relevant information from these organizations in order to avoid any risks.