- Specialist teams utilize vast collections of ancient aerial photographs for bomb disposal tasks.
The Kampfmittelräumdienst (KMRD) in Hessen has access to numerous historical aerial images from World War II, totaling tens of thousands. These images were taken by American and British pilots who flew over bombing sites once more for monitoring purposes. During the late 90s and early 2000s, these aerial images were made public by the Allies, and Hessen acquired over 60,000 from 1941 to 1945 with the right to analyze them.
The government presidency in Darmstadt gets around 6,000 queries every year from builders and developers, questioning if unexploded ordnance (UXO) might be present on their properties. In response to such inquiries, the KMRD in Hessen evaluates the aerial image data. Any discovered ordnance locations are also entered into a database, making it easily accessible for future UXO-related questions and surveys.
If there are suspicions about UXO, property owners are expected to hire a private UXO removal service, at their own expense, to scan the area thoroughly using specialized equipment. If they uncover a bomb, they must promptly inform the KMRD, who are the only authorized personnel to handle the situation safely - in this case, the state of Hessen takes care of the associated costs. The headsquarter of KMRD Hessen lies within the government presidency in Darmstadt.
The aerial image data analyzed by the KMRD in Hessen can provide valuable information for UXO investigations in cities like Darmstadt. In fact, numerous potential UXO locations have been identified and documented by the KMRD in Hessen through their analysis of historical aerial images from Hessen.
