Satellite based synthetic aperture radar and optical spatial-temporal information as aid for operational and environmental mine monitoring

A sustainable society is a society that satisfies its resource requirements without endangering the sustainability of these resources. The mineral endowment on the African continent is estimated to be the first or second largest of world reserves. Therefore, it is recognised that the African continent still heavily depends on mineral exports as a key contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) of various countries. These mining activities, however, do introduce primary and secondary environmental degradation factors. They attract communities to these mining areas, light and heavy industrial establishments occur, giving rise to artisanal activities. This study focussed on satellite RS products as an aid to a mine’s operations and the monitoring of its environment. Effective operational mine management and control ensures a more sustainable and profitable lifecycle for mines. Satellite based RS holds the potential to observe the mine and its surrounding areas at high temporal intervals, different spectral wavelengths and spatial resolutions. The combination of SAR and optical information creates a spatial platform to observe and measure the mine’s operations and the behaviour of specific land cover and land use classes over time and contributes to a better understanding of the mining activities and their influence on the environment within a specific geographical area. This study will introduce an integrated methodology to collect, process and analyse spatial information over a specific targeted mine. This methodology utilises a medium resolution land cover base map, derived from Landsat 8, to understand the predominant land cover types of the surrounding area. Using very high resolution mono- and stereoscopic satellite imagery provides a finer scale analysis and identifies changes in features at a smaller scale. Combining these technologies with the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) applications for precise measurement of surface subsidence or upliftment becomes a spatial toolbox for mine management. This study examines a combination of satellite remote sensing products guided by a systematic workflow methodology to integrate spatial results as an aid for mining operations and environmental monitoring. Some of the results that can be highlighted is the successful land cover classification using the Landsat 8 satellite. The land cover that dominated the Kolomela mine area was the “SHRUBLAND/GRASS” class with a 94% coverage and “MINE” class of 2.6%. Sishen mine had a similar dominated land cover characteristic with a “SHRUBLAND/GRASS” class of 90% and “MINE” class of 4.8%. The Pléiades time-series classification analysis was done using three scenes each acquired at a different time interval. The Sishen and Kolomela mine showed especially changes from the bare soil class to the asphalt or mine class. The Pléiades stereoscopic analysis provided volumetric change detection over small, medium, large and recessed areas. Both the Sishen and Kolomela mines demonstrated height profile changes in each selected category. The last category of results focused on the SAR technology to measure within millimetre accuracy the subsidence and upliftment behaviour of surface areas over time. The Royal Bafokeng Platinum tailings pond area was measured using 74 TerraSAR-X scenes. The tailings wall area was confirmed as stable with natural subsidence that occurred in its surrounding area due to seasonal changes of the soil during rainy and dry periods. The Chuquicamata mine as a large open pit copper mine area was analysed using 52 TerraSAR-X scenes. The analysis demonstrated significant vertical surface movement over some of the dumping sites. It is the wish of the researcher that this dissertation and future research scholars will continue to contribute in this scientific field. These contributions can only assist the mining sector to continuously improve its mining operations as well as its monitoring of the primary as well as the secondary environmental impacts to ensure improved sustainability for the next generation.Environmental SciencesM. Sc. (Environmental Science

Foresight study - Thematic Report IV: Secondary Raw Materials (Including Mine Wastes)

ABSTRACT: This thematic report has been developed within the Minerals4EU project in the context of the first Foresight Study report (WP6) that comprises a central report and five thematic reports. These contributions were designed according to a well-defined structure to fit the purposes of the central Foresight Study report. The scope and targets of the first Foresight Study significantly determine the nature of the documents and may not be suited for unspecified or differing purposes.N/

Use of Remote Sensing for Mapping and Evaluation of Mining Waste Anomalies at National to Multi-Country Scale. A Case Study to Integrate Remote Sensing Information with Thematic Data Layers and National Inventories on Mining Features in Pre-Accession ...

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Green Low-Carbon Technology for Metalliferous Minerals

Metalliferous minerals play a central role in the global economy. They will continue to provide the raw materials we need for industrial processes. Significant challenges will likely emerge if the climate-driven green and low-carbon development transition of metalliferous mineral exploitation is not managed responsibly and sustainably. Green low-carbon technology is vital to promote the development of metalliferous mineral resources shifting from extensive and destructive mining to clean and energy-saving mining in future decades. Global mining scientists and engineers have conducted a lot of research in related fields, such as green mining, ecological mining, energy-saving mining, and mining solid waste recycling, and have achieved a great deal of innovative progress and achievements. This Special Issue intends to collect the latest developments in the green low-carbon mining field, written by well-known researchers who have contributed to the innovation of new technologies, process optimization methods, or energy-saving techniques in metalliferous minerals development

Risk assessment of Petrov's glacial lake Outburst floods (Kyrgyzstan)

[EN] This thesis shows an Environmental Risk Analysis far systematic and comprehensive study of the status of Petrov's glacial lake also it's possible assessment of the hazard it pose and of the vulnerability of downstream people and property[ES] Esta tesis muestra un Análisis de Riesgos Ambientales para el estudio sistemático y exhaustivo de la situación del lago glacial de Petrov también es posible la evaluación de la amenaza que plantean y de la vulnerabilidad de las personas y de los bienes intermedios.Bekturov, A. (2014). Risk assessment of Petrov's glacial lake Outburst floods (Kyrgyzstan). http://hdl.handle.net/10251/47161Archivo delegad

Integration of landscape reclamation, planning and design in a post-mining district: Cartagena-La Union, SE Spain

[SPA] Debido a los graves impactos ambientales que provoca la actividad minera en el paisaje, es fundamental encontrar soluciones sostenibles para la recuperación de aquellos espacios que han sufrido o están sufriendo dichos impactos, y cuyos efectos se pueden observar alrededor del mundo. De especial relevancia son las actividades mineras desarrolladas antiguamente, las cuales, debido a la falta de legislación al respecto, han dejado gran cantidad de zonas degradadas sin ningún valor socioeconómico ni cultural, afectando gravemente a los ecosistemas. No obstante, en las últimas décadas la sensibilidad por los problemas ambientales ha aumentado considerablemente, y se ha visto la necesidad de reducir las consecuencias negativas causadas por estas actividades y la importancia de devolver a aquellas zonas degradadas un uso útil y sostenible. El Distrito Minero de Cartagena-La Unión, debido a su larga historia minera y la gran cantidad de impactos presentes, se ha convertido en un gran desafío ambiental tanto para las comunidades locales como para la administración nacional. En base a esta problemática, y para contribuir a la recuperación del paisaje de las zonas mineras y con el fin de desarrollar nuevas funciones de uso, se procedió a desarrollar esta tesis doctoral. [ENG] It is crucial to find sustainable solutions for healing the landscape wounds of post-mining activities all over the world. Early mining operations left degraded lands not in accord with regional ecosystems and lacking socio-economic and cultural values. Increasing awareness of environmental sensitivity identified the minimization need of the environmental consequences of post-mining activities and the importance of returning the degraded land to a beneficial use. Cartagena-La Unión Mining District, depending upon its long time mining history, has become the subject of these challenges and pending questions for local communities and administrations in Spain. Based on this problematic, to contribute to the landscape reclamation of post-mining areas and to develop new land use functions in those.Universidad Politécnica de Cartagen

Spatial and Temporal Analysis of the Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Gatumba Mining Landscape, Rwanda

Mining activities are one of the main driving forces of land use and land cover changes. While opencast mining is continuously carried out, land cover change assessment is of paramount importance for sustainable land resource management and use as a tool for policymakers to understand the mininginduced changes and their response to water flow, forest, and soil in a mining landscape. In Gatumba Region of the Western part of Rwanda, mining activities are still inadequately undertaken and the surrounding environment is affected by artisanal and small scale mining practices. Soil erosion, barren waste rock dumps, and polluted rivers reflect the lack of implementation of proper environmental protection measures. This study aims to spatially and temporally analyse the land use and cover changes induced by the mining activities in Gatumba mining landscape for optimization of land use planning and management of the mined and restoring the degraded mining landscapes in Rwanda. Landsat images were used to generate the land use/cover maps for the periods of 1999, 2008 and 2015 by using maximum likelihood pixel-based classification method. The comparison of land use/land cover maps during those periods derived from toposheet and multispectral satellite imagery interpretation indicates that there is a significant increase in bare soil, built-up areas at the rate of 0.63% and 45.43% respectively. Over a period of 16 years, mining areas has increased progressively from 2.85 Km2 to 5.55 Km2representing 3.95% of the total land coverage. The expansion has taken place especially in central and southern part of Gatumba. It is also noted that substantial amount of the agriculture land and forest area vanished during the period of study which may be due to rapid population growth and the development of rural centers. The information obtained from change detection of land use/land cover helps in providing optimal solutions for land management, planning for the mining sites, monitoring of the related environmental effects and restoration of the degraded mining landscapes in Rwanda

Use of GIS and RS Combined with Artificial Intelligence Plate for Detecting and Analyzing of Aquatic Heavy Metals Threats for Environmental Sustainability of Green Ports

With the technological development globally, Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing (GIS) & RS has been used and reformed in providing reliable and useful data in the field of environmental studies advancement. There has been needed for GIS and RS in terms of biological and chemical elements in the aquatic environments to assess the concentration of trace metals in the tissue of aquatic species around the world. However, there is still inadequate information and exploration on the subject matter which calls for the use of artificial intelligence plates in acquiring data. There is a need for the use of the invented plate in green port sustainability in order to save time, money, life, less labour and availability of more multiple accurate data information that will have improved sustainability. The primary aim of this concept paper focused on using GIS & RS combined with artificial intelligence plate in Green port environmental sustainability to monitor, acquire data and identify biological and chemical elements data online for analysis. This aim was achieved by the application of qualitative research, that is synthetic literature review. Through the review, we are able to find out that artificial intelligence plates will be useful. Therefore, it requests for innovation of an artificial intelligent plate that will detect, analyze and recommend the concentration of heavy metals and other anthropogenic elements in the water bodies and species tissues without necessarily involving laboratory processes. In conclusion, to provide a theory from fusing past and present circumstances in order to forecast the future for coastal areas, GIS & RS applications and artificial intelligence plates were suggested. This review gives instances of GIS applications' used in the stages of assessment, conservation, maintenance, sustainability, and protection of the environment of marine areas. This study suggests the use of a digital plate that can be used with GIS & RS in monitoring, spatiotemporal distribution and identifying the concentration of biological and chemical elements in the environmental sustainability of port institutions and industrial organizations

Analysis of the efficacy of LiDAR data as a tool for archaeological prospection at the Highland Valley Copper Mine

As heritage resource management and Indigenous heritage stewardship moves into the forefront of project design and operational planning in British Columbia, researchers look for innovative ways to foster impact assessment efficiency without sacrificing quality. In this study I explore methods for employing LiDAR-derived digital elevation models as a tool for archaeological prospection within the Highland Valley Copper Mine. A review of contemporary and formative LiDAR-analysis archaeological prospection research was conducted to identify the most appropriate visualization techniques and data management workflow. Specific methods for the identification of microtopographic relief with the potential to contain archaeological resources were developed. The efficacy of LiDAR-based topographic analysis using manual feature extraction is validated through comparison with georeferenced survey and ground-truthing data provided by my research partners at the Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council. The LiDAR analysis method identified a high percentage of recorded archaeological sites and meets provincial requirements for a moderately effective predictive model. Results of LiDAR analysis are presented along with recommendations for improved performance using best practices and an interpolation workflow. An analysis of the cost implications of incorporating LiDAR-survey into the heritage management workflow in the study area identified a significant benefit during survey. These savings would allow for redistribution of resources and potentially a greater focus on mitigative systematic data recovery. The use of remote sensing technologies and methods can have a positive impact on heritage resource management industry in BC by decreasing program costs while maintaining quality