The increase in the development of reliable, tried-and-tested tailings storage facility (TSF) monitoring systems globally, driven by recent TSF disasters and the resultant long-term environmental and social impacts, has resulted in enhanced solutions by geospatial sciences and environmental advisory firm Kongiwe Environmental.

The company is refining, and increasingly implementing, its geographic information system (GIS) technology aimed at TSF development and the management thereof.

GIS is a technology that enables Kongiwe to digitally create, analyse and visualise maps on a computer by combining different types of location-based data.

This accumulated data can include satellite images, ground surveys and digital layout plans, which are all consolidated into one platform to assist with data visualisation and analysis, which is then used to better inform decision-making.

“It functions much like Google Earth, but with enhanced analytical capabilities,” says Kongiwe Environmental CEO Bradly Thornton.

GIS can further use remote sensing technology to collect information about an area from a distance, typically using satellites, aircraft or drones equipped with sensors.

“One such use of remote sensing is in TSF rehabilitation monitoring by the detection of vegetation health using hyperspectral remote sensing.”

Hyperspectral remote sensing, as an advanced technology, differs from traditional remote sensing methods in that it captures data across hundreds of narrow, contiguous spectral bands, allowing for detailed material identification and characterisation, whereas traditional sensors capture data in only a few broad bands.

In effect, hyperspectral remote sensing enables precise identification of surface materials, chemical compositions and environmental changes that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to detect, Thornton adds.

He says Kongiwe’s GIS technology has been implemented at South African mining operations to enhance compliance with the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management (GISTM) by improving monitoring and risk mitigation.

The company’s GIS solutions support mining companies in complying with the GISTM by enhancing environmental management reporting and risk assessment, ultimately helping such companies to uphold their commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.