MOSMIN: Multiscale Observation Services for Mining-related deposits

Our society's reliance on raw materials from mining generates residues such as rock wastes and tailings. Managing these materials is crucial due to environmental and safety risks, necessitating stable containment and pollution prevention. Despite technological advances, Earth-observation (EO)-based techniques are underutilized for monitoring these deposits, and multi-sensor field data integration remains limited. MOSMIN, an EU Horizon research project (2024–2026) is developing comprehensive services for geotechnical and environmental monitoring and valorization of mining-related deposits. Our methodology integrates optical and radar satellite data with high-resolution data from unoccupied aerial vehicles and site sensors, enhanced through machine learning for multi-scale data fusion. Non-invasive geophysical techniques such as distributed fibre-optic sensing and ambient noise seismic provide subsurface information, crucial for identifying resource potential and assessing internal structure and deformation to link cause and effect. Preliminary results from our pilot sites in the EU, South America, and Africa demonstrate the effectiveness of these integrative tools.