July 20, 2005

BATTELLE AIRBORNE TECHNOLOGY HELICOPTER DETECTS AND MAPS UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE (UXO)

Aberdeen, MD--A new technology developed by Battelle and Oak Ridge National Laboratory improves the speed, safety and cost of finding unexploded munitions.

This technology allows technicians searching for unexploded ordnance to fly over large areas, instead of walking or driving, to perform manual--and risky--inspections.

The issue of unexploded ordnance looms large for military bases and former training sites that must be cleaned up before being put to other uses.

The technology is based on mining and mineral exploration principles and uses magnetic field systems and a type of global positioning system to provide data analysis, digital maps, and target lists within hours. Mounted on a commercial helicopter via a fixed boom, the system can survey a width of about 40 feet while flying three to six meters off the ground.

The technology originally was developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is managed by UT-Battelle, a limited liability company consisting of the University of Tennessee and Battelle. In 2005, the technology was transferred to Battelle and currently is being used on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard. Battelle has conducted more than two dozen successful surveys for the military.

"We consider this a giant leap forward in unexploded ordnance survey technology," said Dean Ertwine, Battelle's VP for the Army market sector. "This technology has the potential for tremendous impact in terms of speed, safety, and cost and is likely to result in more land being returned to civilian use."

Battelle displayed its newest technology at a Joint UXO Advanced Technology Workshop held in Aberdeen July 20-21.

The workshop was sponsored by the National Association of Ordnance Contractors (NAOC), the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). It was designed to showcase mature technologies, or those nearing field use, and included demonstrations at Aberdeen Proving Ground and panel discussions and presentations at the Battelle Eastern Science and Technology (BEST) Center.

Battelle is a global leader in science and technology. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, it develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for customers. Battelle, with the national labs it manages or co-manages, oversees 19,000 staff members and conducts $2.9 billion in annual research and development. Battelle innovations include the development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on compact disc technology, medical technology advancements, and fiber optic technologies.

For more information, visit www.battelle.org or contact National Media Relations Manager Katy Delaney at (410) 306-8638 or at delaneyk@battelle.org.