Drone-based near-infrared multispectral and hyperspectral imaging in monitoring structural changes in mine tailing ponds

Monitoring and verification of structural changes in mining areas is necessary for mining operators - especially in terms of what events are taking place in the mining area and tailing ponds. Emptying or enriching a pond requires up-to-date information on the shape of the pond and amount of contained material. Increasing accurate measurements interests mining operators. Novel monitoring technologies include possibility of imaging spectroscopic optical measurements - such as hyperspectral imaging - with drone-based scanning feature. At Pyhäsalmi Mine in Finland, we established field trials with drone-based near-infrared multispectral imaging of mine tailing ponds and their dam structures. These field trials were part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 project called ‘Goldeneye’, which aims to develop a data-acquisition and processing platform combining remote sensing and positioning technologies to produce actionable intelligence for mine operators.