Understanding IEDs

WORKSHOPS FOR MEMBER STATES AND UN STAFF

The workshops emphasised the crucial role that the United Nations must undertake to ensure that there is proper sharing of information about the technology used in the devices being encountered.

The need for adequate and evolving training, and the budgets to buy the equipment that will keep explosive ordnance disposal officers, peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel safe.

Demonstration of our MIDAS [Mine & IED detection] Training System to delegates, and staff of the UN. The focus of the conference was to improve awareness and understanding of the threat of IEDs and the impact on the UN in recent years now that their convoys and operational bases are being targeted. A unique ‘interactive’ format was adopted for the conference with opportunities for vendors to demonstrate systems live during relevant presentations throughout the morning.
After the lunch break delegates and officials were invited to spend time with the vendors experiencing the systems first hand and to ask any questions relating to the specific systems. Demonstrations included; Search dogs, Bomb disposal suits, decommissioned IEDs, augmented reality, and the ITS VR training system presented by Cobham & Maelstrom. Day 1: Short video clip of Paul Curtis [Product line manager - Cobham] introducing the VR training system. Day 2: Direct input from Bryan Sand [UN Senior Advisor] explaining the benefits of the VR training system. Link to: UNMAS website with conference details and full unedited footage of both days.  
The images above show the delegates and officials getting first hand experience with the training system. Pictured top right is Karel Van Oosterom - Permanent Representative to the United Nations for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which in 2018 is member of the UN Security Council.  Link to: MIDAS product development page. The product is currently in the final stages of development ready for release in early 2020.