Digitalization, Extended Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Explosive Ordnance Risk Education

Abstract

Digital innovations in Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) are gaining increasing importance with the rapid development of technology and need for a combination of online and offline, in-person and remote delivery. New innovative technical tools and approaches in EORE include digital media platforms and information services, Extended Reality, Artificial Intelligence, just to name a few. All these are already bringing a significant potential for the EORE and the broader humanitarian mine action sector to scale up risk education work and ensure that more communities at risk can be reached. Beyond simple reach, impact and effectiveness is however more important, as EORE ultimately aims to generate safe behavior. Despite the multiplicity of methods used, fully ascertaining impact and effectiveness is still challenging in the field. Digital EORE itself is also facing several challenges on the ground before it can be further scaled up. This paper reviews the latest innovative approaches in EORE and provides a critical analysis of their scope for scale-up, and of the ways of measuring their impact and effectiveness.