Swedish Armed Forces Stockholm 1999-07-19
Major Björn Liszka
EOD IS / GEO PRES 97 - PRESENTATION AT THE 19th
ANNUAL Esri INTERNATIONAL USER CONFERENCE
The PowerPoint-file presented at the conference can be downloaded from the project web-site www.eodis.mil.se.
Abstract
Demining + GIS = TRUE!
The importance of demining continues to grow. The Ottawa Landmine Treaty came into force on March 1, 1999, but there is a problem: Between 85 and 120 million active mines scattered in over 70 countries waiting to explode.
Five thousand mines in a depot is logistics; 5,000 deployed mines is geography.
In response to operational feedback, an enhanced version of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Information System (EOD IS) is near completion. A vital added component is the ability to register individual mines, existing minefields and cleared areas, assuring accuracy for EOD planning, operations and reporting.
This presentation will give an overview of the EOD IS, focusing on the tight integration with the Swedish Armed Forces GIS-tool known as GeoPres.
Presentation
(The paragraphs relate to picture in a PowerPoint-presentation "EOD IS-99.ppt".)
Picture 1
Personal presentation:
Name: Björn Liszka
Rank & org: Major - Swedish Armed Forces
Residence: Stockholm
Private: Married (Wife: Anna, kids: Sofie 3 years & Karin 2 years)
Hobbies: Hunting & travelling (& computers)
Current job: Project manager EOD IS
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EOD IS is the abbreviation for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Information System.
In Sweden EOD is defined as:
All activities with the purpose of locating, identifying and safely rendering safe mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). Procedures include disarming, demolition and removal.
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The Presentation is divided in 4 parts:
The Requirements (brief)
The System(s) (brief)
The Functions(s)
The Vision
Requirements
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There is one priority above all:
No casualties! Neither among the EOD-personnel, nor after they have declared an area "safe". We are not going to swap mines for lives.
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During the whole development of EOD IS we have had one very clear guideline:
"To ensure that information is readily available for the EOD team to positively identify and render safe any UXO, whether on land or sea."
With this, we always have been able to prioritise and construct only what is demanded. The key word in the sentence is "EOD team". They are the only ones who HAVE TO go out in a mine field in peace time. Therefore, they must have the best support available.
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Work started in 1995. We are proud say that according to the time schedule set at that time we will be only two months late. And we are within the original budget.
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Only one system was allowed to be developed and that had to meet the requirements not only from the three branches of the Armed Forces but also the Police, the Defence Research Establishment, the Swedish Rescue Services Agency, the Coast Guard, the NBC-centre etc.
System(s)
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To achieve this (and much more!) we had to divide this "one system" into a couple of "sub systems":
The Central Database, also called the Administrative application, exists only in one place in Sweden. It�s here � and only here � that the data on ammunition and render safe procedures are fed into the system. Other things are done here, such as, the validation of the information, security authorisation on the users and distribution of information.
The Local Work application, permits any authorised personnel to update information in the Central Database on completely open lines (e.g. Internet) though enabling secret information to be handled. Sweden is a relatively big country with large distances and this saves a lot of costs and time.
The Operative application is the front line system. It�s with this system that the "EOD work is done".
The web system. To achieve good mine awareness al (non secret) information will be provided on the Internet.
We are doing demonstrations of the system during the week at the Defence Showcase.
Function(s)
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The system�s main functions are:
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But let�s focus on GIS.
Five thousand mines in a depot is logistics; 5,000 deployed mines is geography.
That statement and some consideration will make anybody understand that we need some type of GIS.
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EOD is conducted/carried out as follows:
What parts of EOD does really need GIS? Everything but "identifying" and "disarming". This clearly shows how important GIS is for the EOD team to fulfil a mission.
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I�m sure that there are white-collar workers who ask themselves: Will this simplify my work and how? We have thought about that too. This is mainly through the planning and reporting functions.
The output of the Operative application is, in addition to getting rid of UXO on land and in the sea, both geographically related information and standard information, such as how many and what type of mines you took care of, how many square meters you have cleared, the pace you are working at, etc. And this can easily be updated every 24 hours.
As the system runs on Windows NT4 and uses standard formats, it�s very easy to adapt the reporting to whatever format the mission command have decided.
This is explained very neatly in an article in the Defence Research Establishment�s monthly magazine. It was chosen "The article of the month" and was published on the Internet in Swedish and English. You can find the article on our homepage: www.eodis.mil.se.
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So why did we choose GeoPres 97?
The easy answer is that the Swedish Armed Forces have decided that all newly developed software that needs GIS shall use GeoPres. But it�s better than that:
Benefits of using GeoPres
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I just said something about "Programming vs. using�" Let me explain that:
Unique program features:
Shared program features:
"All the rest":
The latter bullet will contain the largest number of functions!
We believe that the user feels that handling
is "99%" of the time by computer.
The Vision
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The world is nasty. The map shows the major Swedish U.N. missions since 1945. The yellow dots are the latest and active. One mission contains EOD activity and three are entirely EOD missions � EOD is required.
As a matter of fact, unfortunately, international terrorism is increasing and the demand for effective IEDD and co-operation on the IED arena therefore also increases. The world is nasty.
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We got the brightest heads (in Sweden) on the subject to sit down and co-operate by collecting all their requirements for the EOD IS. We will fulfil (or meet) those very high demands. We have come a long way towards implementing the system into the organisation and many are anxious get started.
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(Who do we think the users of EOD IS are?)
Does it sound that I�m trying to sell you the EOD IS? Impossible� remember that I�m an officer, my salary is fixed and the product is already paid for.
Our aim is that any user that is considered a serious EOD organisation may obtain EOD IS for free. The catch? None...... The thought is that we shall mutually benefit from co-operation on information and further development of the EOD IS.
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So�
are only some things that makes EOD IS the best available demining system for international co-operation.
With the EOD IS we want to contribute to your efforts at making this place a better world.
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You can find all this information and more by surfing to our homepage. The address is on the back our brochure. Our email address is also found there.
Thank you!
/Björn Liszka/
Major/project manager
Swedish Armed Forces
Headquarters
Joint Operations Staff
S-107 85 STOCKHOLM / Sweden
Phone: +46 8 788 86 83
Fax: +46 8 788 97 13
e-mail: info@eodis.mil.se
The PowerPoint-file presented at the conference can be downloaded from the project web-site www.eodis.mil.se.