Explosive ordnance glossary A–Z

Documented assessment of a defined part of an area. Area, depth, clearance objective and limitations determine its scope. Other sections need their own assessment reference. At handover, the section identifier on the site plan should match that in the associated record; additional working areas are explicitly considered.

Historically delineated area of bomb drops. Available sources and spatial accuracy form part of assessment; the designation alone does not identify an individual unexploded bomb.

Official register of contaminated sites and sites suspected of contamination. Information on soil protection does not replace separate clarification of suspected explosive ordnance.

Number or concentration of anomalous measurement findings relative to an area. It initially describes the data available. Causes of anomalies are assessed by specialists; utilities or other interfering objects may also play a role. Comparing two areas requires the reference area and investigation conditions so that data collected differently can be understood traceably.

Coordination of protective measures and employers involved. In Germany, prerequisites under the Construction Sites Ordinance are related to the specific project. Each employer remains responsible for protective measures for its employees. Working areas, mutual hazards, contacts and reporting routes are agreed for cooperation.

Area serving railway operations. Work must consider its specific use, operational requirements and hazards from railway operations. For work near tracks, railway operational hazards and necessary protection measures are related to the specific worksite.

Structural body of the railway with track superstructure and load-bearing substructure. The specific layers and installations must be established from existing records.

The upper part of the railway, comprising rails and their supporting structure, particularly sleepers and track ballast in ballasted track.

Coordination of work steps, dates and handovers. Explosive ordnance investigations are connected with proposed interventions and results needed.

Category for systematic description or assessment of a finding. The report explains the classification system used and assignment criteria. A measurement data class and confirmed ordnance identification represent different levels of evidence; the legend must show which is meant.

Liability-law concept associated with railway operations. Actual hazards to employees during track work must be assessed separately in occupational safety.

An indication requiring specialist examination of ordnance deployed but not functioning as intended. Suspicion and confirmed identification must be distinguished.

Project-specific depth value for an investigation or clearance. Different assessment scopes may be meant; elevation reference, method and limits must be clarified explicitly. The number is read with the stage actually reached. After filling or excavation, particular attention must be paid to which ground surface an old value refers to.

Analysis of groups of similar or spatially adjacent findings. Grouping describes an analytical result. Causes are assessed using the data and technical context. A results map should allow the group, associated individual findings and assignment criteria to be traced.

Critical infrastructure is particularly important for supply and society. Its failure may have serious consequences; specific legal requirements must be checked separately.

Combining different data sources for joint analysis. Origin, spatial reference and assessment limits remain identifiable. Where sources differ in age, accuracy or coverage, these differences are considered in assessment. A historical indication and a current measurement anomaly each retain their own evidential value.

Long-term measure to limit a hazard, for example through suitable use restrictions. It must be distinguished from removing explosive ordnance and requires specialist planning.

Project-specific designation for review and decision processes envisaged within DB. The specific project documents and tasks and recipients identified in them are decisive. Internal progress is evidenced by the review note or associated decision actually available.

Probability of detecting a defined target under specified investigation conditions. Understanding a value requires the target definition, method and constraints. Ask which assumed object, depth and investigation situation the statement relates to. Transfer to other conditions requires technical justification.

Civil engineering along or near existing transport and utility infrastructure. Existing facilities and proposed ground interventions must be considered in investigation planning.

Term for an initiating ignition event. It describes a technical relationship. A suspicious object is assessed by the responsible authorised authorities; site personnel follow safe behaviour rules for a possible find.

Specialist assignment of identified ordnance to a type or design. Interpretation of a measurement signal and identification of an object are described as different evidential steps in the report. It must show which finding is actually supported.

Deliberate explosion as part of professionally planned measures by authorised bodies. Procedure and protective measures require assessment of the specific case.

A coordinate reference system defines the spatial basis for coordinates. Unambiguous transfer of a find location or investigation area therefore includes both the numerical pair and system used. Where horizontal and elevation information are separate, both references are identified. Before data is combined, it is checked whether the references used correspond.

Project-specific investigation of an elongated planning area, such as a route. The task must define which areas, sources and interventions are considered.

Measure of the accuracy of a location. It depends on factors including recording and reference used and forms part of data quality assessment.

Planned arrangement of measurement lines. Spacing and orientation form part of the investigation concept and are justified by objective, method and local conditions. The execution record also shows which lines were actually recorded and where work was restricted. Planned grid and achieved coverage thus remain distinguishable.

Instrument for measuring the magnetic field. Magnetic anomalies may arise from different magnetically responsive objects and local influences. Assessment considers possible causes, measurement conditions and investigation objective together. An anomalous signal is therefore initially documented as a measurement finding; further specialist clarification determines its evidential value.

Ground-penetrating radar system with several measurement channels. Suitability for the task follows from the overall system, measurement geometry and site conditions. The assessment achievable and volume investigated are described for the specific project. Channel count is an equipment specification considered together with the other investigation conditions.

Number of spatially assigned measurements relative to an area or distance. It is assessed alongside measurement geometry and investigation objective. A results map also needs the spatial distribution of values and remaining measurement gaps. A high number of measurements in one area does not establish complete coverage of the rest of the construction site.

Designation for an individual ammunition object in its recording context. Size or quantity do not permit a blanket assessment of danger.

Distance specified within a defined protective concept. The relevant case, hazard considered and determination by responsible authorities form part of the statement. For an unknown suspicious object, keep your distance, notify the police and follow their instructions.

Depth to which an investigation assessment relates. It depends on task, method and conditions. A depth value includes reference level, spatial limits and documented restrictions. For the next ground intervention, this assessment is compared with the proposed intervention depth; general equipment range is a different technical specification.

Coordination of proposed work with operational closure periods. The time window considers necessary railway protection measures, specialist preparation of the ground intervention and handovers needed. Operational availability of a track and specialist investigation status are each documented with their actual scope.

Activity-specific personal competency under German explosives legislation. The certificate of competency under Section 20 SprengG and permit under Section 7 concern different legal requirements. Documents assign the holder, activity scope and relevant authorisations to the proposed commission. Respective statutory responsibility remains separately identifiable.

Property of an ordnance item in its specific condition requiring specialist assessment. The responsible authorised specialists make the assessment needed. Site personnel do not use photographs, size or external condition to decide for themselves whether to move or remove an item.

Spatially defined course of proposed or existing linear infrastructure. Explosive ordnance assessment rests on site-specific evidence within this volume. Alignment, working strip, crossings and additional working areas are assigned on the site plan so that the investigation scope considered remains clear.

In Germany, employers must provide sufficient and appropriate workplace- and task-specific instruction. Content and delivery follow actual hazards and activities; instruction is adapted and repeated where necessary. Employees are informed of workplace contacts and reporting routes for their task.

Compliance with accident prevention regulations applicable in Germany to the respective companies and insured persons. Such a statement relates to specific activities and requirements. For coordination, it must be clear which regulation is implemented by which measure or record.

German explosives legislation defines ‘Verbringen’ in Section 3 SprengG as relocation of substances and objects outside a place of business. This includes the activities specified there within its scope and between Germany and other EU Member States. For a specific removal, the activity, substances or objects concerned and responsible authorised authorities are clarified. ‘Beförderung’ is a separately regulated term.

Classification of a suspected hazard under an explained assessment system. The category must be read with the underlying evidence and its scope.