Honeybee-based biohybrid system for landmine detection

Legacy landmines in post-conflict areas are a non-discriminatory lethal hazard and can still be triggered decades after the conflict has ended. Efforts to detect these explosive devices expensive, time-consuming, dangerous humans animals involved. While methods such as metal detectors sniffer dogs have successfully been used humanitarian demining, more tools required for both site surveying accurate mine detection. Honeybees emerged recent years efficient bioaccumulation biomonitoring animals. The system reported here uses two complementary landmine detection methods: passive sampling active search. Passive aims confirm presence of materials mine-suspected area by analysis material brought back colony on honeybee bodies returning from foraging trips. Analysis is performed light-emitting chemical sensors detecting explosives thermally desorbed preconcentrator strip. search intended able pinpoint place where individual most likely present. Used together, anticipated useful an end-to-end process surveying, suspected hazardous reduction, post-clearing internal external quality control demining.