2.5D change detection from satellite imagery to monitor small-scale mining activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Kranz ◽  
Stefan Lang ◽  
Elisabeth Schoepfer
Keyword(s):  
Change Detection ◽  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

High contamination in the areas surrounding abandoned mines and mining activities: An impact assessment of the Dilala, Luilu and Mpingiri Rivers, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chemosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 191 ◽  
pp. 1008-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel K. Atibu ◽  
Pierre Lacroix ◽  
Periyasamy Sivalingam ◽  
Nicolas Ray ◽  
Gregory Giuliani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

scholarly journals Object-based image analysis for the assessment of mineral extraction in conflict regions – a case study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B7 ◽  
pp. 891-896
Author(s):  
Olaf Kranz ◽  
Elisabeth Schoepfer ◽  
Kristin Spröhnle ◽  
Stefan Lang
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
Object Based Image Analysis ◽  
Object Based ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

In this study object-based image analysis (OBIA) techniques were applied to assess land cover changes related to mineral extraction in a conflict-affected area of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over a period of five years based on very high resolution (VHR) satellite data of different sensors. Object-based approaches explicitly consider spatio-temporal aspects which allow extracting important information to document mining activities. The use of remote sensing data as an independent, up-to-date and reliable data source provided hints on the general development of the mining sector in relation to socio-economic and political decisions. While in early 2010, the situation was still characterised by an intensification of mineral extraction, a mining ban between autumn 2010 and spring 2011 marked the starting point for a continuous decrease of mining activities. The latter can be substantiated through a decrease in the extend of the mining area as well as of the number of dwellings in the nearby settlement. A following demilitarisation and the mentioned need for accountability with respect to the origin of certain minerals led to organised, more industrialized exploitation. This development is likewise visible on satellite imagery as typical clearings within forested areas. The results of the continuous monitoring in turn facilitate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to further foster the mentioned establishment of responsible supply chains by the mining industry throughout the entire period of investigation.

scholarly journals Investigating the Potential of Radar Interferometry for Monitoring Rural Artisanal Cobalt Mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 9834
Author(s):  
Chloe Brown ◽  
Anna Daniels ◽  
Doreen S. Boyd ◽  
Andrew Sowter ◽  
Giles Foody ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Temporal Frequency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
P Value ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
The Impact

Greater awareness of the serious human rights abuses associated with the extraction and trade of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has applied increasing pressure for businesses to move towards more responsible and sustainable mineral sourcing. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities in rural and remote locations may provide heightened opportunities to conceal the alleged human rights violations associated with mining, such as: hazardous working conditions, health impacts, child labour, child trafficking, and debt bondage. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of the Intermittent Small Baseline Subset (ISBAS) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) method, teamed with high temporal frequency Sentinel-1 imagery, for monitoring ASM activity in rural locations of the “Copperbelt”, the DRC. The results show that the ISBAS descriptive variables (mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum) were significantly different (p-value = ≤ 0.05) between mining and non-mining areas. Additionally, a significant difference was found for the ISBAS descriptive variables mean, standard deviation, and minimum between the different mine types (industrial, surface, and tunnels). As expected, a high level of subsidence (i.e., negative ISBAS pixel value) was a clear indicator of mine activity. Trial activity thresholds were set for the descriptive variables mean (-2.43 mm/yr) and minimum (-5.36 mm/yr) to explore an ISBAS approach to active mine identification. The study concluded that the ISBAS method has great potential as a monitoring tool for ASM, with the ability to separate mining and non-mining areas based on surface motion values, and further distinguish the different mine types (industrial, surface, and tunnel). Ground data collection and further development of ISBAS analysis needs to be made to fully understand the value of an ISBAS-based ASM monitoring system. In particular, surrounding the impact of seasonality relative to longer-term trends in ASM activity.

scholarly journals Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Are Not Associated with Nighttime Light Emissions

J ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. M. Kyba ◽  
Grégory Giuliani ◽  
Florian Franziskakis ◽  
Klement Tockner ◽  
Pierre Lacroix
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Infrared Imaging ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Illegal Mining ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Nighttime Light ◽  
Earth Observation Data ◽  
Night Lights

Maintaining records of artisanal and small-scale mining sites in developing countries requires considerable effort, so it would be beneficial if Earth observation data from space could assist in the identifying and monitoring of such sites. Artificial light emissions are common at industrial-scale mining sites and have been associated with small-scale illegal mining in some contexts. Here, we examine whether known artisanal and small-scale mining sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are associated with observations of night light emissions by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band (DNB). Light emissions from the mining sites were not observed: the radiance observed from the sites was near zero and nearly identical to that observed for a set of randomly-chosen locations in the same region. While it is the case that DNB night lights’ products provide useful data in other resource extraction contexts, they do not appear to be useful for identifying artisanal mining sites in the DRC.

scholarly journals Object-based image analysis for the assessment of mineral extraction in conflict regions – a case study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2016 ◽  
Vol XLI-B7 ◽  
pp. 891-896
Author(s):  
Olaf Kranz ◽  
Elisabeth Schoepfer ◽  
Kristin Spröhnle ◽  
Stefan Lang
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
Object Based Image Analysis ◽  
Object Based ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

In this study object-based image analysis (OBIA) techniques were applied to assess land cover changes related to mineral extraction in a conflict-affected area of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over a period of five years based on very high resolution (VHR) satellite data of different sensors. Object-based approaches explicitly consider spatio-temporal aspects which allow extracting important information to document mining activities. The use of remote sensing data as an independent, up-to-date and reliable data source provided hints on the general development of the mining sector in relation to socio-economic and political decisions. While in early 2010, the situation was still characterised by an intensification of mineral extraction, a mining ban between autumn 2010 and spring 2011 marked the starting point for a continuous decrease of mining activities. The latter can be substantiated through a decrease in the extend of the mining area as well as of the number of dwellings in the nearby settlement. A following demilitarisation and the mentioned need for accountability with respect to the origin of certain minerals led to organised, more industrialized exploitation. This development is likewise visible on satellite imagery as typical clearings within forested areas. The results of the continuous monitoring in turn facilitate non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to further foster the mentioned establishment of responsible supply chains by the mining industry throughout the entire period of investigation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document