Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans

Landmines and explosive remnants of war are still present in the Western Balkans and remain a deadly legacy of the hostilities at the end of the 20th century. Over the years, several incidents have occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Serbia, and in Croatia where intact ordnance has caused injurie...

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Main Authors: Ivo Baselt, Adis Skejic, Budo Zindovic, Jens Bender
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/13/6/178
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author Ivo Baselt
Adis Skejic
Budo Zindovic
Jens Bender
author_facet Ivo Baselt
Adis Skejic
Budo Zindovic
Jens Bender
author_sort Ivo Baselt
collection DOAJ
description Landmines and explosive remnants of war are still present in the Western Balkans and remain a deadly legacy of the hostilities at the end of the 20th century. Over the years, several incidents have occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Serbia, and in Croatia where intact ordnance has caused injuries and fatalities. Floods, torrential flows, and gravitational mass movements pose a particular threat. Landmines and explosive remnants of war are mobilized and displaced into previously uncontaminated areas. We first discuss the historical and technical background of this hazardous situation. We then show which hydro-morphological processes are responsible for the mobilization and displacement. We then illustrate how a prediction of the likely contaminated areas can be obtained. We show that the problem can only be tackled using a stochastic-deterministic model. However, for the eventual development of risk-hazard maps, preliminary work using laboratory experiments and field surveys is required. The article, therefore, proposes a novel approach to the problem in an international research project. The aim would be to produce risk-hazard maps that can be used by elected decision-makers, administrative authorities, and emergency personnel in affected municipalities.
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spelling doaj.art-cd6d828e969b4d55afae87b6d836a9702023-11-18T10:36:38ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632023-06-0113617810.3390/geosciences13060178Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western BalkansIvo Baselt0Adis Skejic1Budo Zindovic2Jens Bender3Department of Hydromechanics and Hydraulic Engineering, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Werner-Heisenberg Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, GermanyFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Patriotske lige 30, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Civil Engineering, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 73, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management, DHBW Mosbach, Neckarburkener Straße 8, 74821 Mosbach, GermanyLandmines and explosive remnants of war are still present in the Western Balkans and remain a deadly legacy of the hostilities at the end of the 20th century. Over the years, several incidents have occurred in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Serbia, and in Croatia where intact ordnance has caused injuries and fatalities. Floods, torrential flows, and gravitational mass movements pose a particular threat. Landmines and explosive remnants of war are mobilized and displaced into previously uncontaminated areas. We first discuss the historical and technical background of this hazardous situation. We then show which hydro-morphological processes are responsible for the mobilization and displacement. We then illustrate how a prediction of the likely contaminated areas can be obtained. We show that the problem can only be tackled using a stochastic-deterministic model. However, for the eventual development of risk-hazard maps, preliminary work using laboratory experiments and field surveys is required. The article, therefore, proposes a novel approach to the problem in an international research project. The aim would be to produce risk-hazard maps that can be used by elected decision-makers, administrative authorities, and emergency personnel in affected municipalities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/13/6/178landmineexplosive remnants of warexplosive ordnanceunexploded ordnanceabandoned explosive ordnanceimprovised explosive device
spellingShingle Ivo Baselt
Adis Skejic
Budo Zindovic
Jens Bender
Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
Geosciences
landmine
explosive remnants of war
explosive ordnance
unexploded ordnance
abandoned explosive ordnance
improvised explosive device
title Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
title_full Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
title_fullStr Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
title_full_unstemmed Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
title_short Geologically-Driven Migration of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War—A Feature Focusing on the Western Balkans
title_sort geologically driven migration of landmines and explosive remnants of war a feature focusing on the western balkans
topic landmine
explosive remnants of war
explosive ordnance
unexploded ordnance
abandoned explosive ordnance
improvised explosive device
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/13/6/178
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