A crucial cause

October 2004

After more than a decade of research in robotics technology, engineering lecturer Associate Professor Maki Habib has taken his expertise to a global level through his involvement in ridding the world of landmines. Rahmah Daud reports.

It is estimated that 26,000 people die every year as a result of tens of millions of unexploded landmines lurking in the soil of more than 60 countries.

Demining activist: Dr Maki Habib knows that removing the world's landmines will take tremendous financial resources and effort.

From Angola to Cambodia, Eritrea to Lebanon, and Somalia to Vietnam, the indiscriminate destructiveness of landmines long outlasts the conflicts for which they were used, endangering generation after generation of civilians.

Monash University Malaysia's Dr Maki Habib, whose research activities include intelligent and autonomous robots, multi-robotic systems and humanoid modelling and analysis, is one of a growing group of concerned people who are working towards ridding war-torn countries of landmines.

Dr Habib says he knows it will take tremendous financial resources and effort.

"The problem is further compounded by the many different types of mines used around the world and the difference in terrain, vegetation, climate and environmental conditions," he says. "Technology has become the solution to this long-standing problem, but while current technology may be effective, it is far too limited to fully address the hugely complex landmines issue."

Dr Habib's interest in humanitarian demining work was first piqued during a year-long stint at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne a decade ago.

During his time with the Swiss research facility, Dr Habib developed intelligent and flexible mechanisms for new sensor robots, which can be adapted to work in different minefields with different terrains.

"Humanitarian demining is a global problem that needs to be addressed and managed through proper strategies involving all interested parties to achieve better solutions and actions that will accelerate the process," Dr Habib says.

"The removal of landmines needs effective detection and clearing technology, so it is important that information on new technology and related developments be made accessible to the relevant people."

Such infrastructure, he believes, will ensure synergy in future demining efforts, as it will enable the parties involved to orientate their technology towards what is needed and avoid duplication of efforts.

"It is also useful to get the relevant parties to cooperate in the development of new technology, to engage in joint research and development and in initiating training programs," Dr Habib says.

The system will avoid redundancy and duplication of efforts, instead enhancing overall demining performance through the proper use of distributed resources.

Dr Habib says although demining is a top priority, the current method of mine-clearing is still labour-intensive, slow, dangerous and expensive -- and essentially a low-technology operation.

While the most reliable approach to clear an area of landmines is still through manual demining, Dr Habib and scientists throughout the world are continuing to work on robotic solutions adapted to local conditions.

This, he says, will greatly improve the safety of personnel as well as efficiency, productivity and flexibility.

Dr Habib is coordinator of the mechatronics program at Monash's Malaysia campus and is a member of the International Network of Excellence on Mine Action Technologies. He is also involved in the Humanitarian Demining working group of the International Advanced Robotics Programme, made up of researchers from international universities, national and private research centres and companies.

Action

Dr Maki Habib can be contacted on +60 3 5636 0600 or habib.maki@eng.monash.edu.my.