The German MOD (BMVg) is funding the participation of the FGAN-FOM within the international EC-MSMS programme, starting in 1999. The FGAN is a scientific organisation funded by the German MOD to carry out military R&D projects only, already for decades.

Based also on several decades of expertise for IR techniques, computer aided signal and image processing, the FGAN is providing a certain technical and working input for the MSMS programme. Up to now and out of several measurement activities there was created an IR signature database for different types of mines, scenarios of soil and vegetation. To get access to these go to: http://apl-database.jrc.it/msms.

Results obtained from measurements made in the framework of the international, multi-partner MSMS campaigns were processed and placed in the public domain through the MSMS web site and have been fed out of other EC activities and are used in several other projects and programmes.

This database is intended to host signature data gathered internally at the JRC and, what is more important, from external sources (e.g.: National Humanitarian Demining Programs, consortia currently running contracts with EC DG Information Society, research laboratories in Universities and Industries, like the FGAN). This Database has been created within the framework of two EC projects, 501851-SIGEX and 501032-MINESIGN.