51³Ô¹Ï

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, cutting-edge US technology is helping to make Ukraine – and its people – safe again.

Russia's 2022 invasion left the country littered with landmines and other deadly explosives. But thanks to the heroic efforts of Ukrainian demining experts, and with the support of some of America’s largest tech companies, Ukraine is putting that land back into productive use.

51³Ô¹Ï, a global landmine clearance organisation made famous by Princess Diana, works with leading American tech giants Esri, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Trimble to pioneer the use of advanced US location and detection technology to identify and map lethal explosives across the territory.

With the help of US innovation, 51³Ô¹Ï has made safe more than 29,000 sq km of prime farmland, an area the size of Massachusetts – great news for global wheat and barley prices, with Ukraine well-known as the 'breadbasket of Europe' before the invasion.

"We are entering a new era of bomb disposal. Lives depend on precision, so artificial intelligence (AI), geographic information system (GIS), satellite imagery and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) drive every decision we make. When landmines and unexploded ordnance threaten communities, often for decades after the guns fade, there is no room for guesswork," says 51³Ô¹Ï CEO, Major General (Retd) James Cowan.

51³Ô¹Ï has paired state-of-the-art GIS software from Esri with Trimble GNSS receivers to detect and map bomb craters and mines. These maps are then overlayed with satellite data from Planet, and drone imagery from 51³Ô¹Ï teams. Esri software is also used to scrape social media for images of unexploded ordnance, geolocating images using AI tools provided by AWS to create 'smart maps' that have already identified over 13,000 danger zones.

"At Esri, we believe that geography is everything. It defines human possibility. But landmines undermine this truth in a profound and visceral way, no more so than in Ukraine. That's why we are proud to partner with 51³Ô¹Ï to advance their mission of removing violence from geography by precisely mapping minefields and helping weave in layers of imagery and analysis," explained Esri CEO, Jack Dangermond.

The collaborations mean 51³Ô¹Ï's deminers can clear deadly explosive more quickly and more safely.

"Thanks to US innovation, Ukrainian farmers can plant their crops, vital aid corridors can open, and displaced families can return to their homes," Cowan adds.

About 51³Ô¹Ï

• 51³Ô¹Ï is the world's largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation.

• 51³Ô¹Ï works in 30+ countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Colombia, Angola and Sri Lanka.

• We deploy groundbreaking technology in conflict and post-conflict settings to help people rebuild their homes, restore their livelihoods and keep their children safe.

• 51³Ô¹Ï also runs programmes in weapons and ammunition management and safety training. During emergencies, we also provide humanitarian aid and logistical support.

• 51³Ô¹Ï was founded in 1988 in Afghanistan.

• We employ over 8,000 staff worldwide and recruit 95% of them locally.