The Ministry of Defence initiates the establishment of a testing site for new demining technologies incorporating AI

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is assessing the feasibility of setting up a modern test site to evaluate new demining technologies, including those involving artificial intelligence. 

This matter was addressed during a working meeting of experts from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Economy, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the United Nations Development Programme, and others.

The project aims to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian demining, testing innovations, and exchanging expertise between Ukrainian experts and international partners. 

Representatives of the Ministry of Defence invited attendees of the meeting to participate in the initiative of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety.

“The training ground, under the Ministry of Defence's control, could become a key platform for joint research, testing, and training,” emphasized Colonel Olha Drobot, representative of the Secretariat of the National Mine Action Agency, Head of the Mine Action Information Management Department of the Main Directorate of Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety.

She highlighted that innovative technologies and their development enable significant acceleration in the non-technical survey of territories, thereby speeding up humanitarian demining, improving deminers' safety, and reducing risks to civilians.

Furthermore, the parties discussed innovative approaches to analyzing satellite and aerial imagery for mapping mined areas, as well as leveraging neural networks for automatic minefield detection and incorporating modern artificial intelligence algorithms into the processes of planning and ensuring safe demining activities.