Project MOSMIN

OVERVIEW:

Our society is highly dependent on raw materials, which are currently mainly sourced by mining. Mining activities generate residues such as rock wastes, tailings and stockpiles. These materials are associated with environmental and safety risks that need to be carefully managed throughout their life cycle, with an emphasis on stability and the prevention of water and soil pollution. Earth-observation (EO)-based techniques are seldom used for monitoring these deposits, and multi-sensor field data is commonly not integrated despite recent technological advances. MOSMIN will develop holistic, full-site services for the geotechnical and environmental monitoring as well as valorisation of mining-related deposits based on a combination of EO and in situ geophysical data. We will use Copernicus EO data for large-scale monitoring of ground deformation and surface composition. Innovative change detection algorithms will highlight displacements and identify environmental hazards. Satellite data will be integrated with real-time, high-resolution data obtained from unoccupied aerial vehicles and sensors installed at the site, leveraging the power of machine learning for fusion and resolution enhancement of multi-scale, multi-source data. Novel, non-invasive geophysical techniques such as distributed fibre-optic sensing will provide subsurface information to identify resource potential, and risks such as internal deformation and seepage. In collaboration with international mining companies, MOSMIN will use pilot sites in the EU, South America, and Africa to develop and trial comprehensive monitoring services, which are calculated to have a Total Available Market of €1.2bn and expect to be commercialised shortly after project completion by three industry partners. The MOSMIN integrative service and tools will improve the efficiency and reliability of monitoring, maximise resource utilisation and help mitigate environmental risks and the impact of mining operations.

GOALS:

The overall goal of MOSMIN is to develop satellite-based, vertically integrated services that address the complex challenges facing the raw materials industry in the EU and other parts of the world.

Our objectives are:

To promote the use of green technologies in the raw materials sector and facilitate access to user-friendly and fit-for-purpose Earth Observation-based products and tools.
To decrease environmental impact and safety risks associated with mining-related operations.
To strengthen the resilience and autonomy of the European industry by creating sustainable business models in the EO sector and increasing access to secondary raw materials, including critical raw materials.
To improve transparency in extractive industries to facilitate ESG (environmental-social-governance) compliance processes and enhance social acceptance of mining.

Figure 1: Schematic illustration of various data acquisition planned in MOSMIN

Partners:

The consortium is an international partnership with experts from the following industries and research centres:

Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology @ HZDR
Nordic Strategy Partnerssdam - German Research Centre GFZ
Boliden
Universidad de Chile
CODELCO – Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile
CupruMin Abrud Ltd
First Quantum Minerals
TheiaX GmbH
Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC)
GeoKinesia
Babeș-Bolyai University
Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre (GFZ)

Project reference: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101131740

HOME

Project MOSMIN