Geological Remote Sensing Group – GRSG

Abstract

RESEM – REmote SEnsing supporting surveillance and operation of Mines

Corine Davids, Tom Rune Lauknes, Bernt Johansen, Rune Storvold – Norut, Norway
Pekka Rossi, Anne Tuomela, Björn Klöve – University of Oulu, Finland
Sven Knutsson – Luleå University of Technology – Sweden

The RESEM project is a new collaboration between the University of Oulu in Finland, the Technical University of Luleå in Sweden, and Norut in Norway and is funded by the EU Interreg Nord program. In this project, remote sensing analysis is combined with hydrological and geotechnical modelling and dam design in order to improve mine safety and management and reduce the environmental impact. The project focusses on mining related environmental and safety issues in Arctic regions.

Fennoscandia is one of Europe’s most important regions for mining. It also has large pristine environments important for the local economy and tourism and good management of mining waste in the life cycle of the mine is therefore important. The RESEM project aims to test and develop cost-efficient surveillance and modelling methods for different phases of mining, from initial planning to final closure.

Satellite and airborne remote sensing will be used to provide regional and high resolution information on surface movement, topography, vegetation cover, land use change and ground water discharge. This data can be used in mine site planning, modelling of tailing dam filling processes, dam design and dam safety assessment, the monitoring of rock pile movement and dam leakage, and general environmental protection.
In this presentation we will give an overview of remote sensing methods that are relevant for mine planning and surveillance, and we will show initial results of UAV-based remote sensing of a mine tailing dam in Finland.