Carleton University postgraduate students recently conducted a groundbreaking project utilizing drones equipped with metal detectors to pinpoint unexploded bombs in the Mer Bleue Bog. This area, located in Ottawa’s eastern region and spanning 3,500 hectares, was utilized as a practice bombing range during the Second World War and is presently under the ownership and management of the National Capital Commission (NCC).
Pablo Arzate and Sareh Mirbagheri, the graduate students behind the initiative, utilized magnetometers affixed to drones to conduct a survey of a section of the bog. Historically, the site was predominantly a peat bog that served as a bombing range from 1942 to 1945. Despite the Department of National Defence (DND) having knowledge of the bomb drop locations, the exact quantity of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) present remains uncertain.
Following the drone survey of a limited area, the student team identified over 17 unexploded ordnances within a specific zone. Mirbagheri expressed their fascination with the findings, highlighting the technology’s ability to detect anomalies without specifying the exact nature of the objects. Arzate emphasized the significance of interpreting the site’s history and geology, indicating the prevalence of both exploded and unexploded bombs.
Although the DND was not directly involved in the project, a spokesperson mentioned the organization’s openness to innovative approaches in unexploded bomb clearance. The site’s history reveals that in 1960, a bomb disposal team was assigned to clear the range; however, due to the challenging terrain, the task was never completed, leaving the bog uncleared of explosives. Ownership of the land was later transferred to the NCC in 1965.
Arzate underscored the project’s commitment, detailing the team’s five-hour daily drone flights over four days to survey the area thoroughly. The distinctive composition of the bog facilitated the detection of non-organic objects by the specialized detectors used. The utilization of drones proved valuable in surveying the terrain without causing disruption, showcasing the feasibility of conducting such work without heavy machinery.
Arzate expressed pride in the project’s accomplishments, highlighting the absence of significant financial backing and the team’s intent to apply the aerial surveying technology across various sectors, including mining, resource extraction, defense, and land remediation. The project aims to address ongoing challenges posed by minefields and unexploded bombs, with a focus on the noble cause of contributing to their clearance.
According to DND spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin, the risk of encountering unexploded ordnances in the bog is minimal, given the limited human interaction with these areas. Consequently, there are currently no plans to remove the unexploded bombs unless the land undergoes redevelopment. Poulin emphasized that as long as the region remains designated for parkland, the associated risk will remain low.