Abstract

UAS Remote Sensing Products for Supporting
Extraction Management and Restoration Monitoring
in Open-Pit Mines †
Vicenç Carabassa 1,*, Pau Montero 2, Marc Crespo 2, Joan Cristian Padró 2, Jaume Balagué 3,
Josep Maria Alcañiz 1, Lluís Brotons 3 and Xavier Pons 2
 1 CREAF, E08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain; josemaria.alcaniz@uab.es
 2 Grumets Research Group; Dep. Geografia, Edifici B, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona,
   08193 Bellaterra, Spain; paumontero87@gmail.com (P.M.); marccrespotorres@gmail.com (M.C.);
   joancristian.padro@uab.cat (J.C.P.); xavier.pons@uab.cat (X.P.)
 3 Unitat Mixta InForest (CTFC-CREAF), 25280 Solsona, Spain; jaume.balague@terradron.cat (J.B.);

   lluis.brotons@ctfc.cat (L.B.)
 * Correspondence: v.carabassa@creaf.uab.cat
 † Presented at the TERRAenVISION 2019, Barcelona, Spain, 2–7 September 2019.

 Published: 31 October 2019

 Abstract: Accurate mapping of open-pit mine areas is a prerequisite for the efficient resource
 management of extractive companies, but also detailed mapping is a requirement for public
 administrations, especially regarding the monitoring of restored areas. In previous works, our team
 has contributed to a better knowledge of the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technologies
 for soil/vegetation restoration monitoring purposes, and in this work, we present a novel protocol
 to support combined interests of both private companies and governmental agencies. We introduce
 a case study in which we show the capability of multispectral sensors onboard of a low-weight
 multicopter to describe land cover typologies in restored areas (such as grass, scrubs, trees, topsoil
 and mine spoils) by applying remote sensing and GIS techniques. Moreover, we assess the
 capability of digital terrain models (Digital Elevation Model, Digital Surface Model, Digital Slope
 Model) derived from photogrammetric techniques, to provide useful and fast topographic
 information for the proper management of open-pit mine exploitation and restoration. By applying
 these techniques, we present a cost-effective workflow adequate to monitor land cover dynamics in
 restored areas, but also volumetric changes in stockpiles, waste dumps and extraction faces. This
 combined approach, supporting both environmental and industrial needs, aims to enhance the
 collaboration between sectors, establishing synergies, reducing costs by sharing knowledge, and
 adding transparency to their relation.

 Keywords: drone; multispectral imagery; RGB imagery; morphometric; mapping; vegetation
 classification




                        © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
                        article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
                        (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).




Proceedings 2019, 30, 4; doi:10.3390/proceedings2019030004                      www.mdpi.com/journal/proceedings