1
25-002
A Framework for Assessing Land Use Impact Assessment of
Mining Sites
Donya Otarod
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Jeremy Maurer
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Awuah-Offei Kwame
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Duah Philip
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
ABSTRACT
Land use impact assessment for mining is time- consuming
and expensive. Because of mining’s impact on biodiversity,
land use assessment methods that evaluate biodiversity are
important for mining land use impact assessments. Remote
sensing, in particular satellite multispectral sensing plat-
forms such as Sentinel‑2 and the Landsat mission series,
have been used to assess and quantify biodiversity through
proxy variables such as NDVI (Peña-Lara et al., 2022). The
objective of this paper is to present results of a comparative
study of land use and biodiversity based on multispectral
satellite observations and production data from copper and
cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We
quantify the relationship between different spectral bands
and vegetative indices and the production data provided
by the mining companies and measure correlations. The
results suggest that remote sensing could be a cost- effective
means of assessing biodiversity impacts of mining.
INTRODUCTION
Assessing the impact of mining on land use remains chal-
lenging, often constrained by high costs and significant
time requirements. With their intense effects on biodiver-
sity, mining activities necessitate evaluation methods that
explicitly account for ecological factors. Throughout the
mining life cycle, changes in land attributes significantly
impact biodiversity and the ecosystem life support func-
tion provided by the land. Mining operations transform
landscapes through extensive and direct surface modifica-
tion, leading to habitat fragmentation, soil degradation,
and hydrological disruption. These activities typically result
in vegetation removal, topsoil displacement, groundwater
system alterations, potential occurrence of acid mine drain-
age, and water quality deterioration. In most situations,
the environmental footprint extends beyond operational
boundaries, impacting surrounding ecosystems through
modified drainage patterns, increased erosion, and poten-
tial contamination of soil and water resources. To address
these impacts, most mining operations aim to reclaim dis-
turbed areas, converting them into post-mining land uses
that either resemble pre-mining conditions or serve alterna-
tive purposes. However, the extent of the impact induced
by the mining activity must be understood and assessed to
effectively mitigate any potential biodiversity impacts. This
requires reliable data on land use (pre-mining and post-
mining) and the impacts on biodiversity.
Reliable background data for land use change impacts
remains elusive due to the highly localized characteristics
of mineral resource extraction sites hence, quantifying
their environmental impact remains a methodological chal-
lenge (Islam et al., 2020). Moreover, as suggested in (Milà
i Canals et al., 2007b) and recently discussed in (Islam et
al., 2020), The local bio-geographical context plays a cru-
cial role in shaping the overall impact of land use activities.
Milà i Canals et al. (2007b) further suggest that land use
impact assessment must consider the temporal dynamics to
25-002
A Framework for Assessing Land Use Impact Assessment of
Mining Sites
Donya Otarod
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Jeremy Maurer
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Awuah-Offei Kwame
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
Duah Philip
Missouri University of Science &Technology,
Rolla, MO, USA
ABSTRACT
Land use impact assessment for mining is time- consuming
and expensive. Because of mining’s impact on biodiversity,
land use assessment methods that evaluate biodiversity are
important for mining land use impact assessments. Remote
sensing, in particular satellite multispectral sensing plat-
forms such as Sentinel‑2 and the Landsat mission series,
have been used to assess and quantify biodiversity through
proxy variables such as NDVI (Peña-Lara et al., 2022). The
objective of this paper is to present results of a comparative
study of land use and biodiversity based on multispectral
satellite observations and production data from copper and
cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We
quantify the relationship between different spectral bands
and vegetative indices and the production data provided
by the mining companies and measure correlations. The
results suggest that remote sensing could be a cost- effective
means of assessing biodiversity impacts of mining.
INTRODUCTION
Assessing the impact of mining on land use remains chal-
lenging, often constrained by high costs and significant
time requirements. With their intense effects on biodiver-
sity, mining activities necessitate evaluation methods that
explicitly account for ecological factors. Throughout the
mining life cycle, changes in land attributes significantly
impact biodiversity and the ecosystem life support func-
tion provided by the land. Mining operations transform
landscapes through extensive and direct surface modifica-
tion, leading to habitat fragmentation, soil degradation,
and hydrological disruption. These activities typically result
in vegetation removal, topsoil displacement, groundwater
system alterations, potential occurrence of acid mine drain-
age, and water quality deterioration. In most situations,
the environmental footprint extends beyond operational
boundaries, impacting surrounding ecosystems through
modified drainage patterns, increased erosion, and poten-
tial contamination of soil and water resources. To address
these impacts, most mining operations aim to reclaim dis-
turbed areas, converting them into post-mining land uses
that either resemble pre-mining conditions or serve alterna-
tive purposes. However, the extent of the impact induced
by the mining activity must be understood and assessed to
effectively mitigate any potential biodiversity impacts. This
requires reliable data on land use (pre-mining and post-
mining) and the impacts on biodiversity.
Reliable background data for land use change impacts
remains elusive due to the highly localized characteristics
of mineral resource extraction sites hence, quantifying
their environmental impact remains a methodological chal-
lenge (Islam et al., 2020). Moreover, as suggested in (Milà
i Canals et al., 2007b) and recently discussed in (Islam et
al., 2020), The local bio-geographical context plays a cru-
cial role in shaping the overall impact of land use activities.
Milà i Canals et al. (2007b) further suggest that land use
impact assessment must consider the temporal dynamics to