Portable landmine data

Missions in many parts of the world mean traversing terrain littered with landmines. Canadian soldiers faced with foreign anti-personnel and anti-tank mines will soon be able to identify and disarm mines with the aid of a ‘ruggedized’ personal digital assistant device (R-PDA).

In February, Vancouver-based NGRAIN reached agreement with DND to provide interactive 3D landmine objects to the National Defence Mine/Countermine Information Centre and the Canadian Forces Landmine Database.

The agreement means soldiers will be able to search the CF landmine database on an R-PDA, view a 3D version of the landmine from a number of angles, as well as all internal components courtesy of the CFLD database.

“The advent of the R-PDA capability represents a tremendous leap forward in our ability to provide first-class information that is unequalled by any other country and accessible anywhere, anytime, resulting in reduced safety risks through better training and instant access to critical information in the field,” said Master Warrant Officer Tom Stewart, CF J3 Engineer Operations.

NGRAIN already provides the CF with interactive 3D landmine objects for desktop and laptop computers.

NGRAIN also announced in February that it would be part of a deal struck by San Antonio-based Karta Technologies to provide training to US Army troops. The company, which develops interactive 3D training solutions, joins a multi-partner team of product and service to offer distributed learning to US troops deployed around the globe. The $483-million contract was awarded by the Army’s Distributed Learning, Education and Training Products program.