InSAR Applications

InSAR has a wide range of applications across many industries. Precision Point Consulting focuses primarily on providing mining, geohydrological, geotechnical and civil engineering InSAR solutions. We leverage this technology to assist our clients in evaluating and managing risk associated within their operating environments. 

MINING

Within the mining industry, historical and current InSAR monitoring can be employed across various departments on any mining project to measure surface displacement anomalies and identify risk.


Tailings Storage Facility Monitoring
The recent high profile mine tailings disasters have resulted in increased focus on more effectively managing the risk of these facilities. 

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Our tailings management and monitoring solution is
based on the utilization of a combination of InSAR and UAV mapping technologies. We have leveraged these two platforms to provide a unique method for the management and detailed monitoring of the geotechnical stability, subsidence and seepage of tailings facilities. Very small displacements on TSF walls can be precisely measured using InSAR technology. This provides a safe and cost effective method for measuring subsidence across the entire tailings facility. 

Regular weekly updates can be obtained and are independent of the weather. The TSF pond boundary extents can also be accurately mapped and viewed within Google Earth, which removes the requirement of a physical site inspection.  InSAR and UAV mapping compliments existing monitoring systems already implemented and can highlight specific areas where additional focus is needed.

We have completed several case studies on recent TSF failures in order to evaluate whether these events could have been predicted using InSAR technology. These studies have demonstrated that InSAR should be a vital component on any TSF monitoring system. Please contact us for more details.


Open Pit Rehabilitation

Backfilling and rehabilitation of open cast mining areas is typically associated with varying degrees of surface subsidence. InSAR provides comprehensive monitoring over large surface mining areas where rehabilitation has taken place.  This method of monitoring has many advantages over typical terrestrial methods and is more cost effective that repetitive LiDAR surveys.

 

Open Pit Slope Stability

InSAR modeling provides very accurate measurements of small scale displacement (mm's) along exposed pit highwalls, bench surfaces and around the pit rim.  A dense spatial coverage of monitoring points is usually possible across the pit which is a major advantage over conventional terrestrial monitoring methods. This data proves invaluable when assessing the risk of slope failures within the pit. 

Risk to infrastructure in close proximity to the pit rim can also be effectively managed. Slope stability on large waste dumps can be easily monitored in a safer environment.


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We also provide complimentary pit geotechnical drone surveys which enables us to provide our clients with a more comprehensive pit slope stability solution.


 
 

Surface Subsidence - UG mining

Surface subsidence as a result of underground mining activities needs to be carefully monitored due to safety requirements and impacts on surface infrastructure.


InSAR provides very precise monitoring of subsidence across all undermined surfaces on active and inactive mines. By utilizing the historical archived InSAR data a reliable baseline can be generated to distinguish natural surface subsidence occurring before mining activities commences and subsidence as a result of mining. 

InSAR Benefits:

  • High spatial density of monitoring points
  • Complete coverage of entire site
  • mm precision
  • More cost effective
  • Safest monitoring method
  • More accurate than drone or LiDAR
  • No fixed equipment required
  • No data collection challenges
  • No site access limitations
  • Short update intervals 
  • Weather independent
  • Historical modelling with archived data

GEOHYDROLOGY

 Ground water extraction can be associated with mining activities, agricultural irrigation and urban ground water consumption. Land subsidence can then occur as a result of these dewatering activities and the associated lowering of the water table. The induced geotechical instability can then have serous consequences on surface infrastructure.  InSAR is able to monitor surface vertical displacements of only a few millimetres which provides an effective early warning system enabling corrective measures to be put in place before the infrastructure is damaged.

GEOHAZARDS

Small surface deformations can be an early indicator for geohazard events. Accurate monitoring of high risk areas can help reduce risk to people and ensure better preparation in dealing with these events.  

Typical Applications:

  • Landslide prediction
  • Sinkhole detection
  • Seismic related surface deformation

CIVIL ENGINEERING

The impact of construction related surface deformation can accurately be monitored with InSAR. Surface geotechnical instability and the impact on existing Infrastructure can also be monitored and appropriate remedial action taken before significant damage occurs.
Typical applications:
  • Subway construction
  • Deep surface excavations
  • Pipeline monitoring
  • Railway monitoring
  • Roadway monitoring