Minimising The Risk of Tailings Dams Failures Through the Use of Remote Sensing Data

Tailings dams are usually earth embankments used to store toxic mine waste and effluent, and can be more than 100m high. They are often constructed with steep slopes using the tailings to save on costs. Keeping these structures intact over many decades is challenging. Their failure rate worldwide over the past 100 years has been estimated to be more than two orders of magnitude that of conventional water retention dams. Tailings often contain hazardous substances that can cause loss of life, irreversible damage to ecosystems and large economic damages. In countries with limited resources, it is challenging for the authorities to be able to effectively monitor these sites, especially in remote areas.

We are developing a system for a more cost effective way of remotely monitoring tailings dams and therefore, mitigate their risks of failure. We are measuring the displacement of dams using a combination of satellite based technology, such as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technologies, and real-time in-situ devices. We also consider weather forecasting tools, breach modelling, flood risk assessments and loss of life estimations. Our system will be able to issue alerts for unusual behaviour or weather conditions that could lead to dams failure, supporting the decision-making process of dam owners and authorities.

We are working with mining companies, local governments and private stakeholders in Peru to test this approach on a number of sites. The project focuses in the mining region of Cajamarca, where in 2015 there were at least 9,000 inactive mining facilities registered.

The system contributes to a sustainable management of tailings dams, reducing the risk and the consequent damage to population and ecosystems downstream, upon which many vulnerable communities rely for both their source of water and livelihoods.