V2.1 DRAFT (2004)

www.hectec.ca

HUMANITARIAN ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING CANADA

Business Development The HEC Product Incubation Strategy

Business Development Proposal

The Role of the Product Incubator

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Section

1 A Unique EnvironmentHumanitarian Operational Products A Business Advantage Masquerading as a Service Solution

HEC and the Evolution of the Solutions Oriented Approach

HEC started as the informal R&D section of MgM Demining NGO in Angola. MgM, a German Charity for clearing landmines, has been operational for 12+ years and has gained global recognition for their innovative and reliable, mechanical system developments and application in the removal of landmines. HEC cc became a formal (commercial) Systems Development company in 2004 after several years of successful projects with the US DoD and others. These efforts resulted in 100% deployment of systems into operations worldwide and an outstanding track record that has become the basis for the maintenance of key relations with US DoD and other EU government and agencies.

Humanitarian Market Environment

In the past, Humanitarian operational products and systems have been offered by companies with little or no experience in field operations. This has meant that the products and systems that they offered have been based on first world consumer products such as showroom 4x4 vehicles/accessories, commercial radio packages. These ‘out of the box’ commodity products were rendered inappropriate because their context of use made many of their technically sound feature-sets practically useless. For example, many ‘unpack-hook up-bolt on-and-ship’ products required on-going, in-field support which was just not a practicable concept from the type of remote, landmine strewn, former battlefield in the Angolan hinterland environment where many would be deployed. In reaction to this reality these Humanitarian Outfitters responded by ‘band-aid solutions’ by offering even more product accessories rather than improving existing product offerings. These new product accessories only multiplied the potential points of failure within the systems and predictably led to increased not reduced demand for in-field support by the end user.

Thus with minimal context-of-use integration being the signature of most ‘Humanitarian Outfitter’ HEC found itself continually recruited to deliver after-market ‘bridging the gap’ solutions. HEC began to focus on the supply and support of what the end user really needs, with offerings limited to core field requirements. These ‘context-of-use’ re-engineering projects became HEC’s Services Platform because HEC understood the need, realized the gap, and could deliver the difference.

Context-of-Use Systems Integration

Context-of-Use Systems Integration is about the proper integration of systems and components in such a way as to minimize support issues.

In the ideal situation, field staff is deployed fully prepared with the equipment they need to perform their tasks. The equipment is perfect, never fails, and the initial deployment catered for everything needed, and no consumables or skill are required.

The reality is that teams are deployed as fast a possible to evaluate the situation and the rest comes later. The field staff is faced with operations in locations with little or no infrastructure. Often even the Head Office does not realize the difficulty of the situation on the ground, the operational needs.

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And communicating the required solution from the field to the “outside” world can be very difficult.

The gap between the ideal and the reality on the ground is the market space that Context-of-Use Systems Integrators operate within. Its essential activities can be distilled into the systematic effort to find context specific answers to the following five (5) questions:

1) How to evaluate and communicate the needs from the field to the head office.

2) How to find the right solutions to meet the needs.

3) How to deliver these solutions to the field.

4) How to support them once they are in place.

5) How to keep them functioning and restart them in redeployments.

In rendering its services, HEC repeatedly found that its best answers came when it could synthesize a solution that offered a consistent fit in four specific dimensions of field operations [4DO], namely:

1) What Dimension – operational scope and sequence [the solution was a fit with what is done with the product]

2) How Dimension – operational methodology [the solution was a fit with how is it done]

3) When Dimension – operational synchronicity [the solution was a fit with when it is done]

4) Who Dimension – operational human resources [the solution was a fit with the operator profile]

As HEC formalized these procedures into a process, a distinct pattern of product development emerged. This pattern had significant and identifiable differences from traditional product development, and these difference forced HEC to ask a simple but significant question: “what is our business?”

The business of HEC is to synthesize comprehensive solution packages, which fill the gap between the Humanitarian client’s field operations requirements and their field deployment assets.

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Section

2 Unique Opportunities WER’WOLF Mk II Modular Mine Protected Vehicle A Product Opportunity wrapped in a Solutions Project

Bridging the Gap – Field Requirements Needs versus Field Deployment Assets

In autumn 2003, responding to urgent calls from the field, requesting armor suits for the soft vehicles, the US Army launched a crash program to protect many of Humvees. The program proceeded in two parallel directions – accelerated delivery of highly protected up-armored vehicle, and implementation of improvised near-term solutions adding some protection levels to the crews. Makeshift armoring of vehicles and ad-hoc in-the-field solutions became temporary measures by the forces in situ.

On May 2004 the US Senate approved US$618 million funding for the production of 300 M1114s per month from May through October, and 450 per month, from October 2004 till March 2006. Another USD $610 million was also allocated for armor kits for existing tactical vehicles. According to Major General John Sattler, Director of Operations for CENTCOM, the US Army initial assessments were that 1,000 up-armored Humvees will be sufficient for patrol, convoy protection and transportation in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, as opposition forces in both countries changed their ambush tactics and IED techniques, the numbers where updated, calling up for 2,500 more M-1114 up-armored Humvees. Currently, production of 2,000 more vehicles are on contract, and expected to be delivered in theater by December 2004, with approximately 4,500 up-armored Humvees scheduled to be operational in the theater. In addition, 8,000 up-armored kits are on ordered and being installed to protect windshields and doors for additional vehicles, including trucked and soft skinned Humvees.

As of May 2004, the US Army currently operates several versions of up-armored Humvees - the production model fitted to new vehicles, field modified vehicles, up-armored with the Armor Survivability Kit (ASK) developed by the US Army to improve the protection for Soldiers traveling with standard Humvee. Six Army depots are producing ASK, are scheduled to ship up to 5,000 kits by the end of 2004. In parallel, production of new up-armored Humvees is accelerated. In April 2004, a $110 million contract was awarded to O'Gara, for the supply of up-armored Humvees. By July 2004 the company is planning to increase production rate to 300 vehicles per month, up from the current 220. Many of the remaining vehicles are fitted with steel plates and sandbags, improvised in theater. Battelle has also developed a lightweight armor kit for HMMVWs, The kit weighs around 750 pounds, (about a third of the weight of standard Humvee's armor). By September 2004, 75 initial kits were delivered to special operations units and 400 more are on order.

Clearly there is a big GAP in the market for a MPV that meets the required specifications. Many options exist on the MPV market [see MPV Summary] but few are field environment suitable and some like the HUMVEES are not mine protected.

Windhoek Machine Fabric [WMF] is the developer and manufacturer of WerWOLF MPV. WerWOLF is one MPV that fills the requirements GAP and is recognized to do so by the US DoD. HEC cc has already mediated the sale of the WerWOLF to the USACE <Gulf Region Division (GRD) of USACE (US Army Engineers in Baghdad Iraq)> in support of their reconstruction efforts. Since mid 2004, other sections of the US DoD, up to the Pentagon, have become very interested in this product. HEC cc has met and discussed this with some of these interested parties and established that volume production is essential to the success of the product. In its current state of production, the WerWOLF is under consideration in OOTW roles

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(Operations Other Than War, e.g. support and post conflict). The initial order comprised four (4) vehicles with the intent to procure another 36 thereafter. Four (4) Werewolf MPV are on their way to Iraq in Dec 2004 for evaluation by US DoD in operations. Other militaries have shown interest in the WerWOLF.

Figure 1: WerWOLF MKII Modular Mine Protected Vehicle

Based in Windhoek, Namibia, Africa. WMF has a long history of MPV vehicle design and manufacture and maintains strong relations with component manufactures, including: VRSteel (Laser cutting and CNC bending of Armox500 steel for production) and MANN Germany (Manufacturers of drive train components).

WMF currently has the WerWOLF in full series production, however they face a challenge familiar to HEC. Their customer’s field requirements for the vehicle currently outstrips what WMF is able to deliver in two critical areas of production volume and custom configuration.

Systematizing Solutions

The fundamental product development challenge presented by the WerWOLF project is the need to effectively and efficiently incorporate context-of-use customization into a standardized production process. To be effective, the customization must work in the short-term, and to be efficient, it must work for the long-term. However the determination of short-term and long-term are really a function of the environment within which the projects take place and how it dictates ‘what activities can happen when’ – just like in farming where the weather cycles is the key determining factor of the significance of timing and is in essence the ‘platform’ upon which farming is developed.

For HEC, the in-the-field environment is the platform from which its service solutions ultimately emerge.

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Platform Based Development

Platform Projects & Reliability

HEC’s years of experience in the demining field environment has elevated its focus on understanding the in-the-field meaning of reliability. In these environments down-time is not measured in hours or days, but in body count and wrecked lives. For this reason HEC’s view of reliability has been to decoupled product support from mission effectiveness such that product support is never the reason why the ‘in-the-field’ team was unable to complete its mission. As such, HEC’s working definition of reliability is: the ability of the HEC Solution to remove product support from the critical path of mission accomplishment.

This understanding of reliability is the driving force behind HEC’s reliance on Platform Project Operations methodology. This simply means that HEC defines its operational capabilities platform in a spectrum around the solutions it has delivered and the ones it can deliver within a predefined quantitative and qualitative boundary. The ability to quickly and efficiently determine whether a required solution falls within its platform capabilities is considered by HEC to be its most important contributor to customer relations and the reason why it can stand behind its stringent definition of reliability.

4DO and Platform Projects

In HEC’s operations environment, there are a plethora of ‘out of the box’ commodity products being offered as solutions. HEC ability to quickly and systematically analyze and identify appropriate solution friendly products is critical. Using its 4DO analysis, HEC is able to define the

Platform projects

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Figure 2: Platform Project Analyzer

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‘gap’ in field terms between the Humanitarian client’s field operations requirements and their field deployment assets.

Figure 3: 4DO Analysis

HEC utilizes the Four Dimensions of Field Operations Analysis [4DO] like a GPS to locate the position of potential solutions into one of four areas of operations capabilities on its platform [Figure 4].

Figure 4: Locating Solutions

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Section

3 An Underlying BusinessA Business Opportunity wrapped in a Product Solution The Role of the Product Incubator

Developing Products – Innovating Solutions

In the preceding sections HEC has illustrated that its competencies at developing solutions come primarily from its effectiveness at designing solutions. HEC sees these two aspects of its capabilities as separate and distinct products but has to date sold them as one complete service. There is however a business opportunity in decoupling these two capabilities and positioning them as ‘relational products’. Because a product generally represents one application of a design, positioning HEC’s solutions design as an independent service will allow participation in a wider market spectrum.

All business development starts with product development because customers buy products and there is no business without customers. Product development is therefore by default oriented from the specific idea to the general concept: For example, Starbucks went from the product idea of selling Coffee to the business concept of marketing ‘a lifestyle’. Conversely, Business Development is oriented from the general to the specific because the business is about a defined space in the general marketplace to which it must develop product to ‘FIT’. For example, Barnes & Noble defined a market space for people who like to browse in bookstores. It identified a ‘fit’ with Starbuck’s Coffee lifestyle business, and that fit gave birth to the new business of co-location. The products of co-location flowed from that ‘fit’, for Barnes & Noble it was – ‘read while you sip’ and for Starbucks it was – ‘sip while you read’.

HEC believes that the organizations that we are sharing this proposal with are all players who come to the table with a brilliant set of relational products. HEC believes that using the co-location business as a model, we can together create a new business platform that benefits all. We call this platform Product Incubation and its essential function is to leverage product development as the platform for innovating solutions.

Product Incubation Business Platform – Shifting Focus

Development – Incubation – Innovation

Product Incubation is focused on the spectrum of applications to which a product can be configured into a solution for. It does this by shifting from the traditional product development focus from defining a product as a whole solution to one that defines the product as a ‘part of the solution’. The result is a systems-thinking approach that always raises more questions than it answers. HEC believes that these questions are ‘innovation-fodder’ because they trigger the inflow of knowledge upon which innovation thrives.

…Make no search for water but find thirst, and water from the very ground will burst…

– Rúmí, Persian mystic poet

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Figure 5: A shift in Focus

Identify – Organize – Understand – Solve

Utilizing the unique products/inventions of its partner organizations, the Product Incubator identifies the various context of uses, organizes them into relational products, defines an understanding of the modifications that can transform the base product/inventions into context of use specific solutions, organizes the production capabilities to deliver the solutions into a ‘Solutions Product Platform’ and then markets the Solutions and the Intelligence behind the solutions.

Figure 6: Solution = Product + Context

Figure 7: Platform = Product x Context

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Section

4 An Existing Fit HEC + CAL + WMF = WMF Canada (WMFC)

The Players

Humanitarian Engineering & Consulting (HEC)

HEC started as the informal R&D section of MgM Demining NGO in Angola. MgM, a German Charity for clearing landmines, has been operational for 12+ years and has gained global recognition for their innovative and reliable, mechanical system developments and application in the removal of landmines. HEC cc became a formal (commercial) Systems Development company in 2004 after several years of successful projects with the US DoD and others. These efforts resulted in 100% deployment of systems into operations worldwide and an outstanding track record that has become the basis for the maintenance of key relations with US DoD and other EU government and agencies.

Composites Atlantic Limited (CAL)

Composites Atlantic Limited (CAL) has earned a reputation as a leader in the design and manufacture of advanced composites for aerospace, space, and defense. We are present in both the national and international market. Our team, of over 200 personnel, serves our customer base and new markets with experience in project management, systems engineering, design, procurement, quality assurance and manufacturing. Our new facility consists of 90,000 square feet dedicated to manufacturing and 10,000 square feet for Engineering and Project Management. We utilize the most advanced equipment and technology to support our customer base. For the past few years, part of our strategy at Composites Atlantic Limited (CAL) has been the development of the international market. These efforts have resulted in cooperation on a variety of projects with our customers. Major contracts have been developed with partnership agreements in the spirit of dividing the risk and increasing understanding and know-how. Each partner is benefiting from cost reduction as well as outstanding project management and objectives. We provide maximum dedication and services to our customers and our track record is our best advertisement. Our engineering capabilities are optimized by the structure of our organization. We benefit from group support on software. A data base is utilized for material characterization, manufacturing technique transfer, system design, and project management. We offer our clients superior testing and analysis.

Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (1998) Pty Ltd (WMF)

Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (1998) Pty Ltd (WMF), of Namibia, recently developed and introduced the exceptional WerWOLF MKII Modular Mine and Ballistic Protected Vehicle for the International Defence and Security Establishments. WMF is an engineering company that was established in the Republic of Namibia in the year 1939. Since its inception the company specialized in heavy engineering, steel fabrication and automotive engineering. WMF designed and manufactured its first Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) in 1977. Since then WMF continually developed capabilities of excellence in this most challenging engineering field. Some of these developments were undertaken in close collaboration with internationally recognized experts, whilst others were concluded through our own research, development and testing programs. In 1998 the Namibian Government bought WMF and transformed the company into a State Corporation. This not only demonstrated the commitment and faith the

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Namibian Government had in WMF and it’s products, but it also injected the company with vitality and an international focus to marketing and product excellence. The simplicity of design, absolute ruggedness and not least of all its affordability makes the WMF vehicle range the most suitable choice when it comes to supplying our customers with the best vehicle-borne protection that technology can offer. Of note is also the fact that all WMF vehicles are built on standard, commercially available MAN (German) automotive components. This ensures not only extreme vehicle reliability, but also highly cost-effective worldwide logistic support through the huge existing MAN dealer network.

The WMFC Proposal– WerWolf MKII MPV as a Solution Platform

WMF C WerWOLF MKII MPV as a Solution Platform

Satellite production of the WerWolf in Canada as a joint venture between the three players: WMFC. • Production of left hand drive WerWolf in Canada for ABCA market. • WMF gains local access to ABCA market • CAL gains solution platform for composite products • HEC gains solution platform for technical products • All gain manufacturing facilities for future developments • Allows additional ventures such as BROKK Canada.

WerWolf as product platform for integrating CAL composite products into WMFC WerWolf solutions.

• Anti-spall liner/insulation interior kits for WerWolf cab and modules • Improved dash board (LHD & RHD) accommodating HEC upgrades required for ABCA

market • Appliqué armor upgrades based on CAL and Nova Crystals products. • Ballistic seats from composites for improved occupant protection, accommodating technical

upgrades. • Weight reduction programme for module floors/interiors • Weight reduction programme for internally fitted mechanical sub-systems (tanks, bottles, etc)

WerWolf as product platform for integrating HEC technical products into WMFC WerWolf solutions.

• ABCA minimum equipment for systems are clear and needs to be incorporated into WerWolf • Power distribution, management and monitoring systems • Factory prepared provision for communications and navigation end user systems • Driver aids including FLIR and reversing cameras • Vehicle logging and tracking. • Command and control module developments.

WMFC WerWolf as product platform for expanding WMF product offerings into larger markets.

• WMF realizes increased capacity and capability • WMF realizes second source suppliers for key components and systems • WMF realizes deeper market penetration in key markets • WMF accomplishes this without selling out. • WMF gains greater return on investments • Government of Namibia achieves closer cooperation with the Government of Canada

o Access to increased bidirectional commercial trade o Access to increased Canadian commercial ventures in mining and telecoms o Access to Canadian educational institutions and services, etc.

WMFC as a business opportunity for the Province of Nova Scotia.

• The Nova Scotia Provincial Government is actively seeking and investing in business opportunities

• Diversify and grow the wealth and stability of the province • Realize products from Government sponsored research projects.

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Issues to be discussed and calculated • Government of Namibia & WMF stake in WMF Canada • HEC stake in WMF Canada • CAL stake in WMF Canada • Government of NS & Government of Canada stake in WMF Canada • Active roles and responsibilities for each of the above • Canadian component sources for production (laser cut steel and MAN mechanicals) • Production facilities in Canada • Product collaboration and new product development efforts, services, etc. • Marketing and Sales responsibilities and regions (if any)

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Section

5 An Experienced Team EXPERIENCE ↔KNOW HOW ↔ FOCUS

The HEC Team

The 4 team members below represent several decades of combined experience in running and supporting field operations in difficult environments. All four have made significant contributions to developing, deploying, and supporting infrastructure for Humanitarian, Government, and Commercial field operations across many sectors.

Scott Smith (Canadian) scott@hectec.ca

Trained in Avionics (Aircraft Electronics, SAIT, Calgary), Scott started in Military aircraft upgrades for Canadian and US forces in Calgary and then shifted his focus to Africa in 1989, where he has been supporting field operations and technical deployments for 15+ years. This includes: Avionics, Land Mobile Radio (LMR and Satcom for NGO, Government and UN), and for the last several years, MgM Demining technical support and HEC systems development for US DoD Humanitarian Demining. HEC efforts have been both technical and mechanical in nature. He is with MgM/HEC in the capacity of a Technical Manager for development and special solutions since four years and is responsible for the design of most of MgM’s innovative designs and solutions with the regularly achieved result of long-term working solutions in field deployments. Prior to joining MgM/HEC, Scott started Horizon Consulting (Pty) Ltd with Akin Odulate (below). Horizon was later sold to mCentric KSD in Madrid, Spain. mCentric developed application and management software for Telefónica, Spain’s largest Cell phone network operator.

Akin Odulate (American /Nigerian) akin@hectec.ca

With a Masters in Communication Management from the Annenberg School in Los Angeles, Akin is an experienced international business consultant, highly regarded for the analytical and communications skills he brings to the field of business operations optimization and strategy. One of the founding principals of Horizon Consulting where he partnered with Scott Smith, Akin and Scott successful led this Management Consulting Company in the development of IRE [Internal Retail Engine] an innovative retail e-commerce system for small to medium African retail enterprises. European Mobile Software Infrastructure provider mCentric KSD acquired IRE and Horizon Consulting in 2000. In 2001, Akin was contracted by MTN Nigeria Telecommunications LTD on a two year project to essentially functions as the Chief Operating Officer of MTN’s Engineering Group in order to evolve Group’s operations from their initial start-up phase into a state of managed growth. He was responsible for the development of multiple business operating units and led in the design, development and management of units dedicated to Project Management, Process Engineering, Training, Materials Management and Warehousing, Project Accounting, Contract Management, and implementation of an Enterprise Resource System.

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Richard Smith (British) richard@hectec.ca

While training in mechanical engineering Richard realized the potential for integrated electronic and mechanical systems and the multi-disciplined approach required for their development. From that time Richards has acquired skills in developing mechanical systems, computer programming and micro electronics. Richard has specialized in remote and microprocessor control systems for the past 15 years.

Richard started developing control systems in 1988 for Deep Ocean Robotics, an underwater robotics company, and was involved in design, development and field deployment. While working for Deep Ocean Robotics Richard designed and supported systems in the field both on North sea oil platforms and in the Philippines. In 1989 Richard left the robotics and took up a job industry. After working for 10 years as senior design engineer for Cooper Bussmann (UK) Ltd (part of Cooper industries USA) Richard started his own consultancy business called Robotic Control and Automation. As Robotic Control and Automation Richard has worked on many industrial control projects but has mainly worked on projects concerned with humanitarian demining, starting with the development of a vehicle control system for the EU funded Mineseye project in 2001. It was at the end of this project that Richard was introduced to Scott Smith.

Richard has specialized in the use of microprocessors for the control of electrical DC motors, hydraulics and IC engines. His control systems are being used with in a 300Kg UGV called Moonbuggy (www.moonbuggy.com). Due to his robotics input he was made a director of Moonbuggy ltd in 2003. The Moonbuggy is designed as a robotic platform for use in hazardous environments including nuclear, biological and chemical.

Trained in 3D cad (Autocad and ProDesktop) Richard also produces CAD drawings for many of the projects he is involved with. 3D cad is also used to produce simulations of systems used to prove control routines and configurations.

Richard and Scott have worked together over the last few years on many projects for the US DoD through HEC cc in Namibia. These projects have involved to development of field deployable multi camera and UGV control systems.

Hendrik Ehlers (German) hendrik@hectec.ca

Hendrik Ehlers has a business diploma from the Aachen Chamber of Commerce, studied social sciences and is an internationally well known humanitarian mine clearance manager since 1992. Apart from 12 years of hands-on mine clearance field work in Southern Africa, he also is responsible for a number of inventions both in terms of machinery, system integration and procedures that had a practical input in HD worldwide. He is Founder and Chairman of MgM, Project Manager of MgM Angola and Director of HEC, the R&D branch of MgM. He is a Member of the IMAS Review Board and has directed a number of R&D projects on the end-user side for the EC, US DoD HD and MgM’s own developments.

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MgM, the foundation of ‘People against Landmines’ was founded on January 16th 1996 in Germany. The goal was to establish a humanitarian mine clearance organization which would offer its services to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to re-establishing the infrastructure of dangerous regions in post war scenarios. The founding members of the organization were, among others, Hendrik Ehlers and Hans-Georg Kruessen. Both are now Chairmen and Managing Directors of the organization. They have been working in the field of humanitarian mine clearance and the destruction of dangerous ammunition in Southern Africa since 1992. They possess a wealth of practical experience through operations management, mined area survey, demining and the destruction of explosives (EOD). MgM is dedicated to the people and the peaceful development of the world and an environment worth living in. Based on humanitarian principles, MgM is dedicated to providing a safe environment and promoting peaceful development everywhere. MgM concentrates on tackling the growing world-wide threat to civilians as a result of the use of land mines and unexploded ordnance. They seek to reduce the risk of severe injury and death, and especially to alleviate the bottleneck on development that mines and UXO cause in post war regions.

THE MgM SYSTEMS: After MgM coined the term MaM, which stands for "Mechanically assisted Manual demining", most international mine clearance organizations changed their way of operating accordingly thus making the process of clearance safer and more effective. The first MaM system consisted of a mine proof Wolf III Turbo, armored personnel carrier, from a Namibian scrap yard, It was equipped with a heavy duty vegetation cutter (mulcher) that created safe work areas for manual Deminer’s in the re-opening of hazardous roads, in the Angolan rain forest. It was quickly followed by the MaD system that enrolls residual explosive vapor sniffing dogs behind armored vegetation cutters. The set-up was completed by another system, where an armored grader scrapes the surface of suspect areas for passive quality control by revealing deeper historical layers, to be rechecked by the dog teams. This system gives visually effective geographic limits with the creation of small earth walls (windrows/berms), either side of the road. It works so astonishingly well, without compromising safety or efficacy that it has been named the Voodoo system. All these systems make up the large "toolbox" of self developed and off the shelf devices, they work together in the MLC method, which stands for Multi Layer Clearance and represents the current state of the art in humanitarian demining. Unique inventions and unknown applications of existing devices have caused MgM’s pre-eminence to be the leading demining NGO in technical development. MgM have been invited to participate in various R&D (Research and Development) programmes. Amongst them there were two ESPRIT partnerships incorporating Demine (GPR) and Mineseye (Neutron Backscatter/Digital Metal Detector), support for Project Apopo (residual explosive vapor sniffing rats) based in Antwerp University, PWS (Purple Weed System, a biosensor by Danish ARESA that indicates the presence of explosives by genetically modified weed which changes its color when growing over explosive contaminating soil) and the ROTAR-systems with the US DoD Humanitarian Demining. Additional projects with US DoD have resulted in several more machines and lately, UGV developments like MAXX and MAXX+ Wi-Lan controlled robotic multi-tool series.