Environmental monitoring with satellite images: an approach based on the environmental recovery of a mining project in Uruguay
Environmental monitoring with satellite images: an approach based on the environmental recovery of a mining project in Uruguay
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.317442425017
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Palavras-chave: clasificación supervisada, mapas de cobertura, actividad minera
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Keywords: supervised classification, coverage maps, mining activity.
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Abstract:
Evaluating changes in land cover in areas affected by mining activities is essential to understand their impact on the environment and carry out environmental remediation processes. This work presents an analysis of the area affected by mining activity and its subsequent recovery, during the exploitation of the San Gregorio gold project, Uruguay, using Landsat 5TM and Landsat 8 OLI image processing techniques, with the free software QGIS. The methodology implemented consisted of the preprocessing of Landsat images, application of RGB combinations, semi-automatic classification, calculation of the vegetation index and classification of areas.
The changes produced in land cover were identified in periods of up to 5 years, from the start of operations in 1996 to the closure of activities in 2019. For each period, the images were visually interpreted in false colors, a supervised classification was processed and The normalized vegetation index was analyzed, generating coverage maps of the areas affected by mining activities, as well as determining the spectral signatures of these coverages. The results show the damaged areas and the areas recovered during the mining project and how the vegetation, soil and water evolved over time, reflecting the changes produced. The use of satellite images is an excellent tool for environmental monitoring of mining activities, helping to understand the environmental recovery processes and the future territorial planning of the area.
- Héctor
