Nowadays landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) still represent a danger for civilians, even long after conflicts. In addition, both dramatically hinder the recovery of economies impacted by a conflict, because resources located within areas such as arable land, infrastructure and water suspected of mine contamination cannot be exploited. In the SAFEDEM project, innovative methodologies based on well suited space assets will be exploited for an integrated end-to-end demining assistance service.

This study will determine the feasibility of using satellite-based earth observation, navigation, and communications services to provide a cost effective operational solution assisting humanitarian demining. Although current space technology cannot detect individual mines or explosive remnants of war, it can support the land release process through data fusion of remote sensing, field-report and georeferencing data products.

The SADA projects aim to improve the socio-economic impact of land release activities in Mine Action. Three parallel feasibility studies will evaluate the use of space assets to assist the Mine Action community, with a broad scope, covering activities such as risk and impact analysis, planning, resource management, field operations and reporting.