Risk mapping and risk assessment for suspected chemical weapons burial sites on the former military training area Döberitzer Heide (Germany)

Abstract

The Döberitzer Heide is a former military training area in Brandenburg (Germany) that was used for military training and exercises, military research, testing and development for almost 250 years between 1750 and 1994. The former military training area Döberitzer Heide, situated approximately five kilometres west of Berlin, and other facilities in Germany were used during the development and testing of chemical warfare agents and chemical warfare ammunitions during World War I. Remains of these experiments and tests of warfare agents and ammunitions are still found here today as are burials of disposed chemical warfare agents and chemical warfare ammunitions. On behalf of the Ammunition Clearance Service of the Federal State of Brandenburg, the Havelland District Authority and the site owner, an investigation for suspicious sites for burials of chemical warfare agents and ammunitions is carried out. The approach includes comprehensive historical investigations in national and international archives, the interpretation of historic maps and aerial photographs and remote sensing methods. A geographic information system (GIS) is used for the interpretation of the acquired information. The investigation approach is described in this article. © 2006 Springer.