Landmine Detection Using Magnetic Data and Pseudogravity Transforms: Case Study of Osi NE, Central Nigeria

Abstract

Landmines are a major problem in many areas of the world. Despite the development of numerous landmine sensors, the detection of non-metallic landmines continues to pose significant challenges. The aim of this contribution is to utilize structural indices to isolate gemstones and other objects, such as landmines, from the ground, based on their structures or geometry. In the mineral-rich zones of the Osi NE (Sheet 225) area of central Nigeria, I have employed the 3D Euler deconvolution of aeromagnetic and pseudogravity transforms to isolate landmines (military ordinances) and gemstones based on their structural identity. The approach relied on the analogy that both landmines and spherical host structures share the same structural index (SI), allowing for their isolation before differentiating them into ordinances or non-ordinances using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Certain parts of the world have successfully used 3D structures like spheres and dipoles, commonly associated with certain gemstones, to locate or identify landmines such as tanks and drums. The gravity and magnetic techniques proved to be fast and effective tools for detecting landmines, especially at a regional scale; however, the differentiation and separation of the landmines from other non-ordnance involves the use of GPR techniques.