The Information Section manages IMSMA, and is the hub of MACC SL for mine action information. Full reliance is placed on this section to provide support to Operations in all respects; planning, monitoring and recording the details of the work completed on the various task sites.

IMMSA is where mine-action, victim, and socioeconomic data in addition to the supporting geographic data is stored, analyzed, and queried for information of relevance to the demining operations on the ground.

For details of the staffing of the MACC SL Information Section see Structure of the UN component and the LAF/NDO component.
In addition to these staff the MACC SL contracts a network administrator on a part-time basis.

Implementation

IMSMA is located both in the MACC SL and the National Demining Office (NDO) in Beirut, and Version 3 has been in use since July 2003.
Synchronization between the two databases is taking place on a continual basis, having commenced following the initial implementation at the NDO in 2001.

To assist in the access of mine action information by our partners the MACC SL have installed read-only versions of IMSMA into the Tyr office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the office of BACTEC, the mine clearance company for the Operation Emirates Solidarity (OES) project. These are updated on a monthly basis.

An installation was completed early in 2004 in the office of the Demining Coordination Centre (DCC) at UNIFIL in Naqoura. This was facilitated by microwave connection across a distance of approximately 25 kilometres, and enables the staff at DCC to have a virtual ‘real time’ view of the database.

Introduction

Due to the time frame taken from the conception of OES to actual operations on the ground and the lack of any Landmine Impact Survey information at the planned start of operations in May 2002 the MACC SL in consultation with the National Demining Office (NDO) devised a basic Priority Setting Methodology to allow the MACC SL Operations Department to organize and plan a works schedule. Using the methodology described below the MACC SL was able to identify the most highly affected villages, which allowed for the priority of effort to be directed at these villages immediately.

The methodology used for Priority Setting was first used by the UNMACC in Kosovo and has been developed and applied here in Lebanon with success. This methodology does not take into account any socio-economic benefits or blockages, but allows a quick method of categorizing affected areas into high, medium or low impacted.

The methodology was based on a scoring mechanism derived from the analysis of the “livelihood space” of a village. The concept of the “livelihood space” was first developed by the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation in cooperation with the UNMACC in Kosovo, as a means to classify affected communities in Kosovo by the severity of socio-economic impacts caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance, following their conflict.

In countries where a Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) has been conducted this mechanism could provide the means for determining priorities for minefield clearance. While a LIS has now been completed for Lebanon the survey commenced around the same time as the OES project so results were not available to assist in priority setting.

Aim

The aim of this Priority Setting Methodology was to assist operational planning by directing clearance assets first to those villages identified as highly impacted by landmines.

Priority Setting Methodology

The methodology uses a system of buffer zones around affected areas. Using IMSMA and a GIS, buffer zones of 500 metres and 1000 metres were created around all villages, whilst along each side of main roads, rivers and other water sources a 200m buffer zone was created.

Villages with minefields or dangerous areas within 500 metres of their centre were considered as “highly impacted” by landmines. The 500m buffer was based on a social science theory suggesting that children of 5 to 8 years of age are unlikely to walk further than this distance from their village centre. Children younger than this would be assumed to be under the supervision of their parents. While children older than this can be assumed to venture further than 500 metres from their village, if they are advised of the danger, they are old enough to understand the difference between safe and unsafe behaivour.

Villages with minefields and dangerous areas from 500m out to 1000m of their centre were considered to be “medium impacted” by landmines. Within this additional distance from a village centre people would be expected to visit periodically to attend to agriculture fields.

The 200m buffer zone along each side of main roads and water sources corresponds to the expected movement zones of the community along and around these features. Minefields and Dangerous Areas falling within this 200m buffer zone were also considered to be “highly impacted” areas.

Any Minefields or Dangerous Areas falling outside any of the above buffer zones were considered to be “low impacted” areas.

IMSMA Mapping

The following images produced from IMSMA shows the application of the priority setting methodology buffer zones on a map using GIS for the area of Al Bayyadah, which is within Operation Emirates Solidarity Area of Operations No.1. (OES.1.).

Minefields MF/143 and MF/23 as indicated in Figure.1. illustrates the basis of the Priority Setting Methodology explanation at the various stages.

The buffer zones are then applied as shown in Figure.2.

Note:

The final stage of the clearance process is presented in Figure 4. This stage focuses on the post clearance use of the formerly mined area; identified as either private or public and by activity ranging from various types of agriculture, to industry, to commerce…….
This is based on the application of a Post Clearance Review data to the cleared areas. The Post Clearance Review of former Minefield number 143 for example indicates that the land is being used for agriculture, specifically to grow fruits (banana crops) (See Photo Gallery “Swing Gate Charlie” feature for photographs of MF 143 site)

The outputs of the Information Section through their use of IMSMA are as follows:

• A real time image of the status of mine action within the project area indicating areas cleared, and remaining mine contamination analysed as either Minefields, Booby traps, Dangerous Areas identified through the work of the Community Liaison or Suspected Hazardous Areas.
  
• A reflection of land use through the entry of Pre and Post clearance land use gathered from the Post Clearance Review.
  
• Task Dossiers for each area or task to be either surveyed or cleared by the mine clearance contractors. The dossier in addition to General Survey data gathered contain maps relating to the area and the Clearance Plan. See Example Clearance Plan and Example Task Dossier.
  
• Situational maps reflecting the status of the project at any given time for use by Operations staff and Community Liaison team members, as well as other stakeholders working in the area, for eg. UNIFIL.
  
• Analysed geographic data (shape-files, satellite imagery, scanned maps)
  
• A regularly updated and maintained system of information archive.
  
• Statistical information on area cleared, items destroyed, and mine incident and accident victims on a user request basis for use in monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
  
• An integrated spatial information infrastructure establishing a common ground of coordination between the various parties (UN, other NGO’s, and the Lebanese Government).
  
• Trained staff from local organizations on the use of IMSMA and GIS as part of the UN Policy to coordinate and collaborate with National Organizations.

IMSMA Version 3

Version 3 has provided opportunities to further enhance the use of the IMSMA database, as well as increasing its security features, backup capabilities, reliability and other general features.
In the MACC SL Version 3 has been used to provide the following enhancements to Mine Action information and Users alike.

MRE Activity

The addition of the MRE Activity module within IMSMA has now made it possible to record the Community Liaison activity conducted within the OES project.

A small adaptation to this module has also made it possible for the MACC SL to record the conducting of the Post Clearance Review as a further activity within this module. This activity is also conducted by the Community Liaison team, and seeks to confirm confidence in the cleared land some months following clearance.

Link Databases - For details of this see Customisations

For more thoughts on Version 3 from Users visit James Madison University