Satellite-based monitoring of safety parameters in open pit mining; СПУТНИКОВЫЙ МОНИТОРИНГ ПАРАМЕТРОВ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ПРИ ВЕДЕНИИ ОТКРЫТЫХ ГОРНЫХ РАБОТ

Operational safety and environmental protection are the basic components of effective performance in mineral mining. At the present time, the majority of minerals are extracted using the open-pit method of mining both in Russia and in the world. According to the data on mine accidents, the localization and management of such accidents takes years and great efforts and means. Aimed to prevent accidents in open pit mining, it is proposed to use an additional method based on the satellite data analysis. The satellite monitoring is applicable both at the stage of mining (current control) and at the stage of salvage and rescue operations. This article presents the classification of mine accidents by the criterion of workability of satellite data towards mining safety. The study shows that the use of satellite monitoring in mineral mining in Russia is currently at a low level. However, there is some experience gained in application of satellite technologies in the other areas of activities. Moreover, there are some positive results which can be introduced in the mining industry immediately. It is already possible to perform: control of greenhouse gas emissions on ground surface of open pit coal mines (methane and carbon dioxide), monitoring of temperature both at the stage of spontaneous ignition prevention and during fire development, as well as overseeing of any mining-induced deformations of ground surface. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.