Interpreting Results from the Standardized UXO Test Sites

Abstract : The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) was tasked by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESCTP) to complete a detailed analysis of the results of testing carried out at the Standardized Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Test Sites. The major purpose of this tasking was to provide data for an Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council report on the status of UXO detection and discrimination technology. This IDA document provides an overview of the sites, discusses standard data analysis products provided by the U.S. Army Environmental Center, and describes in detail the analysis undertaken by IDA and the results of that analysis. The focus of the analysis was to provide a data-driven understanding of the performance of sensors currently in widespread use in UXO clearance actions. The method employed was to start with the Army's standard analysis and then apply selective data filters that excluded certain targets to illustrate limitations on performance. As expected, scores improved when munitions that were buried very deeply or clustered with other targets were excluded from the analysis. The demonstrated sensors could be separated into "good" and "poor" categories. But note that even after filters were applied, the good performers did not achieve probabilities of detection (Pds) of 100% for all munition types. IDA analyzed data from individual munition items emplaced at the Standardized UXO Test Sites to provide an understanding of why those items were missed. Note that the distribution of clutter, munition types, and their depths at the Standardized Sites is designed to replicate a variety of real-world encounters. The Standardized Sites do not replicate any particular real-world site.