Humanity & Inclusion – EO Reference App – ROTEO 

A Digital Solution for Safer Mine Clearance in Laos

Pegotec partnered with the international NGO Humanity & Inclusion (HI) to develop the EO Reference App (ROTEO). It is a mobile and web-based application designed to support landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance teams in the field. Initially focused on Laos, one of the world’s most heavily bombed countries, the app has since also been successfully used in Cambodia. ROTEO replaces bulky printed manuals with a digital, searchable EO identification tool. This tool improves both safety and operational speed for deminers working in demanding, low-resource environments.

About Humanity & Inclusion

Founded in 1982, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) supports people with disabilities and vulnerable populations affected by conflict, poverty, and natural disasters. As a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, HI plays a leading role in the global movement to ban landmines and cluster munitions. With the EO Reference App, HI strengthens its mission of creating safer communities. It continues its vital advocacy and life-saving field operations.

The UXO Crisis in Laos

Laos remains one of the most heavily bombed countries in history. Millions of unexploded submunitions from the Vietnam War era still threaten lives and restrict access to farmland and infrastructure. More than 50,000 people have been killed or injured by unexploded ordnance in the country. By combining clearance operations, risk education, and innovative digital tools, such as the EO Reference App, HI, and Pegotec, these organizations contribute directly to restoring safe and productive land for local communities.

Transforming UXO Identification with the EO Reference App

The HI–EO Reference App, also known as ROTEO, is a mobile-first solution that gives field teams immediate access to critical EO information. It works offline on both Android and iOS devices. This ensures usability in remote locations without internet access.

Key features include:

• Instant access to EO profiles with images, technical specifications, and hazard information
• Detailed SVG diagrams and interactive 3D models to support accurate identification
• Bilingual support (English and Lao) for both local and international teams
• Offline-first synchronization, allowing teams to work seamlessly in low-connectivity areas
• Integrated feedback system, enabling field users to share observations for continuous improvement

With more than 200 EO items and 3D models already available, ROTEO has become a trusted digital companion for clearance teams.

Pegotec’s Role: Driving Innovation for Social Impact

Pegotec applied its complete expertise in software development to deliver ROTEO. The system combines a secure web-based administration module built with Laravel, MariaDB, and ReactJS. It also includes a Flutter-based cross-platform mobile application. The backend manages EO data with full CRUD functions, glossary and category management, rich media uploads, translations, and dashboards with usage statistics.

This technical foundation ensures a reliable and field-proven solution that empowers clearance professionals to act quickly and safely.

A Long-Term Partnership with Continuous Improvements

Since 2022, Pegotec has been collaborating closely with Humanity & Inclusion on the EO Reference App. What started as a replacement for paper-based manuals has grown into a robust, feature-rich platform. Pegotec continuously improves the system by adding new EO entries. Additionally, they refine the user interface, expand multilingual support, and strengthen offline synchronization.

This ongoing collaboration ensures that ROTEO evolves in response to the needs of clearance teams. It provides them with the most reliable and up-to-date digital support tool available. For Pegotec, this is not just a project but a long-term commitment to innovation and humanitarian impact.

Empowering Local Communities through Knowledge Transfer

The collaboration between Pegotec and Humanity & Inclusion demonstrates how technology can directly contribute to humanitarian missions. By replacing outdated paper manuals with ROTEO, deminers can now make faster and more accurate decisions. This enhances both their safety and the efficiency of clearance operations.

This project highlights Pegotec’s commitment to delivering technology with real-world impact. It supports safer communities and empowers local teams with the knowledge they need to transform contaminated land into safe, productive ground.

ROTEO app for weapons clearance

Did you know that 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, Laos remains one of the most polluted countries in the war by explosive weapons?