InSAR monitoring for mining
Ground movement is inherent to mining operations. Whether from active extraction, tailings consolidation, groundwater changes, or post-closure rehabilitation, understanding how the ground behaves is fundamental to safe and efficient operations. InSAR provides mining operators with continuous, wide-area surveillance that complements traditional ground-based monitoring. Satellite revisit times of 6-12 days deliver systematic measurements across entire concessions, detecting displacement patterns that might be missed by sparse point surveys. For remote or inaccessible sites, this capability is particularly valuable - there is no requirement for personnel to enter hazardous areas to collect data.
Open pit and underground operations
Active mining creates complex stress redistributions that manifest as surface displacement.
InSAR monitoring tracks pit wall stability, identifying areas of accelerating movement that may indicate developing slope failures.
For underground operations, surface subsidence patterns reveal information about extraction progress, pillar performance, and the propagation of goaf zones.
Historical satellite archives extending back to the 2014 enable retrospective analysis of sites with long operational histories.
InSAR detects spatial patterns of ground movement at a coal mine (location and movement scale anonymised).
This example shows how InSAR can be used to track pit wall stability and subsidence patterns.
Groundwater and subsidence
Mining operations frequently alter regional groundwater regimes, with effects that may extend well beyond the mining lease.
InSAR detects the broad subsidence bowls associated with aquifer depressurisation, tracking their extent and evolution over time.
Post-closure, monitoring captures groundwater rebound and any associated ground heave, supporting long-term liability management.
Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs)
TSF failures represent one of mining's most significant risks, with consequences that can extend far beyond site boundaries.
InSAR provides continuous monitoring of embankment deformation, detecting settlement, lateral movement, and localised instability across the entire facility footprint.
This supports both operational management and regulatory compliance, with measurement records that demonstrate ongoing stability assessment.
InSAR detects spatial patterns of ground movement at a TSF (location and movement scale anonymised).
This example shows how InSAR can be used to track embankment deformation adjacent to critical infrastructure.
Heap leach and waste rock
Heap leach pads and waste rock dumps undergo consolidation and settlement throughout their operational lives and beyond.
InSAR tracks these movements systematically, identifying differential settlement that might compromise liner integrity or drainage systems.
This supports both operational integrity and closure planning.
Rehabilitation and closure
Demonstrating successful rehabilitation requires evidence of ground stability over extended periods.
InSAR provides the continuous, objective measurement record needed to satisfy regulatory requirements and support progressive sign-off of rehabilitated areas.
The technique's independence from site access makes it particularly suited to long-term post-closure monitoring programmes.
Our assessments integrate satellite-derived measurements with geotechnical context to support informed decision-making.