UAV Remote Sensing Surveillance of a Mine Tailings Impoundment in Sub-Arctic Conditions

• DOI: 10.3390/rs9121318
• Publication Date: 2017-12-15T17:23:56Z
• Authors: Anssi Rauhala; Anne Tuomela; Corine Davids; Pekka Rossi
• Keywords: DEM of difference; UAV; Science; Q; 0207 environmental engineering; ground displacement; 02 engineering and technology; 15. Life on land; tailings; Structure from Motion; settlement; 13. Climate action; digital elevation model; unmanned aerial vehicle; mine

Mining typically involves extensive areas where environmental monitoring is spatially sporadic. New remote sensing techniques and platforms such as Structure from Motion (SfM) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may offer one solution for more comprehensive continuous measurements. We conducted UAV campaigns in three consecutive summers (2015–2017) at a sub-Arctic mining site production was temporarily suspended. The aim to monitor 0.5 km2 tailings impoundment measure potential subsidence of tailings. SfM photogrammetry used produce yearly topographical models the surface, which allowed amount surface displacement between years be tracked. Ground checkpoints surveyed stable were utilized assessing vertical accuracy models. Observed displacements linked combination erosion, settlement, possible compaction peat layer underlying obtained indicated that UAV-assisted impoundments sufficiently accurate supporting management operations tracking decimeter range.