19 January 2023
by Alex Brinded

Monitoring mine tailings from space

A new monitoring solution uses satellites and earth observation with ground sensors to track mine tailings.

© spacex / unsplash

Japanese satellite data company Synspective and UK software provider Insight Terra are partnering to deliver the new system.

Insight Terra's cloud based Internet-of-things platform will integrate with Synspectives analytical models of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data for the mining sector as well as related industries.

While Insight Terra already has a mining product used by mining companies for tailings dam monitoring, Synspective develops and operates SAR satellites - with three in targeted orbit and a planned constellation of 30, along with an analytics platform by the late 2020s.

The two companies say that this technology can be used to monitor ground movement and land deformation, risk indiciators for potential failures of tailings facilities, mine walls, and water dams.

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Authors

Alex Brinded

Staff Writer