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.
The HALO Trust, 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, HALO 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 HALO CEO, Major General (Retd) James Cowan.
HALO 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 HALO 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 The HALO Trust 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 HALO'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.
Notes to editors
About HALO
- Founded in 1988 in Afghanistan, HALO was made famous in 1997 when Princess Diana visited a minefield it was clearing in Angola.
- HALO clears landmines and bombs across the world, with large programmes in 26 countries including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Angola and Sri Lanka.
- HALO employs more than 8,000 staff.
- Further information about HALO's operations in Ukraine.
About Esri
- Esri specialises in geospatial technology, digital transformation and advanced analytics.
- Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations worldwide and is active in over 200,000 institutions in over 100 countries across six continents.
About AWS
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 250 fully featured services from data centres globally.
- Millions of customers – including startups, enterprises, and government agencies – trust AWS to power their infrastructure, innovate faster, and scale applications securely.
- In Ukraine, AWS technology supports initiatives that enhances HALOs operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making and empowers communities.
About Trimble
- Trimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done.
- With innovation in precise positioning, modelling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation.
