What are the best remote sensing tools for mapping and monitoring mining sites?

Remote sensing tools are useful for mapping and monitoring mining sites. Here's a concise overview: 1. Satellite Imagery: Wide coverage for tracking changes over time. 2. LiDAR: High-resolution elevation data for terrain modeling and volume calculations. 3. Hyperspectral Imaging: Identifies minerals and vegetation types. 4. UAVs: High-resolution aerial imaging for detailed mapping. 5. RADAR: Penetrates through obstacles, useful for detecting subsidence. 6. Thermal Imaging: Identifies heat anomalies, crucial for monitoring operations. 7. GPS: Provides precise location data for accurate mapping. Integrating these tools enhances operational efficiency and environmental management in mining.

Let's start with Satellite Imagery sources: Sentinel Hub: Platform offering access to Copernicus program data (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2,...). Landsat: Operated by USGS, provides historical and current imagery (USGS Earth Explorer) Then, Drones: OpenDroneMap: Open source software for processing drone data into 3D models and orthomosaic maps. Pix4Dmapper: Free trial available to create 3D models and maps from drone data. And finally, Hyperspectral Sensors: EO-1 Hyperion: Hyperspectral data from the Hyperion satellite available through USGS. AVIRIS: Hyperspectral data from the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, available via NASA.

The top remote sensing tools for mapping and monitoring mining sites include satellite imagery from sources like Landsat and Sentinel, aerial drones equipped with high-resolution cameras, and LiDAR technology for detailed surface mapping.

Here are some of the benefits of using satellite imagery for mining: Improved exploration and discovery: Satellite imagery can be used to identify potential mineral deposits by looking for geological features that are indicative of mineralization. More efficient mine planning: Satellite imagery can be used to create detailed maps of mine sites, which can be used to plan mine operations more efficiently. Enhanced environmental monitoring: Satellite imagery can be used to monitor the environmental impact of mining operations, such as deforestation, water pollution, and air pollution. Improved safety: Satellite imagery can be used to identify potential safety hazards, such as unstable slopes and landslides.

Well when we talk about mining then the picture generated in mind will be a huge area with difficult terrain and altitude. Where satelite image can provide meaningful analysis through image classification, density and multi spectral analysis to understand soil type, vegetation, moisture etc. easily and quickly without much interference of man and machine with minimum risk from hazardous situation.

High-resolution imagery: Drones provide detailed close-up shots that satellites can’t. Easy access to hard-to-reach areas: Drones can fly where people and manned aircraft can’t. Rapid deployment: Drones can be deployed and start collecting data quickly. Frequent data collection: Drones can collect data more often than satellites.

All mining operations rely on mapping and data collection. The use of drones to expedite the process is something that most planners have embraced. The technology brings speed, ease and dramatically reduced costs over cumbersome traditional methods. They can return highly defined data, including: 2-D mapping, 3-D mapping using LiDAR, Digital elevation, Terrain modelling and they can do so in the toughest, hardest-to-reach terrain and even in certain adverse weather conditions. Drones can be used for exploration, route planning and the monitoring of route logistics. Advanced models are capable of rendering traditional tools obsolete. There are more use cases but not able to type here because of character limitations.

For LiDAR Systems for monitoring and mining: 1. Airborne LiDAR: It produces highly accurate digital elevation models (DEMs), essential for assessing topography changes due to mining. 2. Satellite LiDAR: Newer technologies like ICESat-2 offer spaceborne LiDAR data, useful for broader area analysis.

LiDAR systems are very helpful in the mining industry. Some applications off LiDAR Systems include accurate volumes calculation, infrastructure analysis, extension planning, Pre/Post mining surveys, face of stope monitoring and many more. Mining companies are using our LiDAR systems to produce GIS data for DEM and DTM models, to capture geospatial information of the natural surface, the infrastructure of a mine, its planned extension, and to calculate production volumes. They are useful in: - Ensuring proper planning and swift decision making. - Optimizing operations. - Reducing human and environmental risks. - Reliable source of analysis

Depende do que se quer monitorar. Mas em geral, sensores ópticos com 30 a 50 cm de resolu??o espacial s?o úteis para mapear com precis?o novas constru??es, supress?o de vegeta??o e solo exposto. Essas classes básicas s?o úteis para licenciamento ambiental e monitoramento de práticas ESG. Além disso, modelos de terreno com alta precis?o altimétrica e resolu??o espacial s?o úteis na quantifica??o da extra??o mineral e modelagens de terreno para prever perda de solo ou acúmulo de água no terreno. Cabe destaque ainda aos sensores hiperespectrais que auxiliam o mapeamento e identifica??o mineralógica ou teores no solo.

The choice of hyperspectral tool or sensor depends on the specific needs of the project, including the required spatial and spectral resolution, the study area, and the available budget. The combined use of hyperspectral sensors and other geospatial data, along with advanced analytics software, can provide valuable insights for mapping and monitoring mining sites.

With 3D analyst you can: - calculate volume using LiDAR, DTM/DSM or multipach as input. - calculate and visualize change detection using two or more datasets. That are two most needed GIS capabilities for mining’s operations.

Integrating remote sensing data into GIS platforms enables you to analyze and visualize the information in a spatial context. GIS tools allow you to overlay different data sets, such as topographic maps, satellite images, and sensor data, to get a comprehensive picture of the mining site. This integration is key to effective site management, as it supports decision-making processes by providing a clear, multi-dimensional view of the mining operations.

Certainly, the presented selection remains inconsistent and incomplete, when "Satellite imagery" and "Airborne Drones" as carrier-specific data sources are mentioned, but on the other hand airborne survey remains hidden behind sensor types as "Lidar." The distinction falls short, as also Drones (and soon satellites) can carry Lidar, but airborne surveys can provide any of the mentioned data types. Aerial surveys (with crewed/manned aircraft) not only provide the vast majority of high-resolution geodata (over 80%), but offer with their range, variety of sensor types, temporal and spatial flexibility, and cost advantage over almost any area the prime solution for Mapping and Monitoring.