Applications of Geographic Information Technologies in Sustainable Mining

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability has become a key issue for industries globally, including mining. Mineral excavation benefits economies and at the same time impacts the surrounding environment and society. The environmental, social and other issues connected with mining need to be studied and assessed to provide the information necessary to facilitate sustainable mining operations. Geographic information technologies, including data acquisition techniques, data processing methods and analytical methodologies play an increasing role in providing reliable information and prediction models facilitating the minimization of the adverse effects of mining operations.

This Special Issue will comprise a selection of papers addressing current and state of the art methods and techniques of remote sensing, as well as spatial analysis and modelling applied to problems associated with the effect of mining on the environment.

The scope and potential topics cover, but are not limited to:

• remote sensing of mining and post-mining areas as a source of data on changes in mining areas,
• satellite radar interferometry of ground deformation (active and secondary),
• modelling of active and secondary ground deformation with spatial and numerical techniques and methods,
• studies of geospatial relationships of mining and the surrounding environment and its components,
• new methods and techniques applied in studies of mining’s influence on the environment, especially ground movements,
• comparative studies of approaches and methodologies in studies of mining’s influence on the environment,
• case studies of innovative methods and technologies,

The purpose of this Special Issue includes the demonstration of new methods and techniques in the processing and interpreting of remote sensing data for the observation and monitoring of mining grounds, including the integration of data from different sources and GIS; the presentation of enhanced and new methodologies for analysis and assessment of the state of areas under the influence of mining and the condition of engineering objects in mining areas.

Key research questions are:

• remote sensing for spatial analysis and GIS applications,
• ground surface hazards and risk in mining areas,
• infrastructure deformation monitoring,
• problems of ground deformation resulting from induced seismicity in mining areas,
• problems of ground movements in areas of mine flooding,
• SAR interferometry.

Dr. Jan Blachowski
Prof. Jörg Benndorf
Dr. Wojciech Milczarek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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