Synspective Inc., a provider of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data and analytics solutions, is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has selected our “Republic of South Africa / Demonstration project for effective monitoring of mining operations using SAR satellites” project for the “Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Subsidy.”
Through this project, Synspective will test a SAR satellite data solution with Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Insight Terra, and SRK Consulting that can effectively observe signs of ground displacement caused by mining development at mining facilities in Latin America and Africa. The service will be refined using local ground-based data and feedback from mining companies to optimize operations and expand its deployment to regions and industries with active mining activities.
■ Background: Why SAR monitoring in mines is needed
Mining is one of the major industries throughout the Global South, and Japan imports many of the resources produced by its mining operations. Mining involves the risk of incidents such as ground or embankment collapses and landslides and requires continuous monitoring of the entire mine to ensure safe mine operations. Additionally, tailings storage facilities*1 generated during mining are susceptible to ground deformation and instability. A collapse would seriously affect mining productivity and could pose a significant risk to the surrounding environment and community. Continuous stability monitoring is essential to detect surface displacement, cracks, and other warning signs early.
Innovative monitoring solutions, such as SAR satellites, can address some of mining operations’ inherent risks and challenges. SAR satellites can detect wide-area surface displacement at the millimeter level without requiring onsite equipment. This capability enables the effective detection of early signs of damage, such as collapses caused by mining activities. In this project, Syspective will collaborate with several mining companies to demonstrate an effective monitoring method for SAR satellites targeting mining facilities and expand the services to regions including Central America, South America, and Africa. The company aims to provide the world’s most frequent mine monitoring service by leveraging the time-series InSAR*2 analysis technology of Synspective’s StriX SAR satellites.
*1 Tailings storage facility: a facility where waste materials generated during mine ore extraction, beneficiation and metal smelting are stored. Once detoxified, these materials are deposited into the storage facility as a slurry where they gradually separate into solids and water. The collapse of a Brazilian tailings dam in January 2019 claimed 270 lives and caused significant environmental damage.
*2 Interferometric SAR (InSAR): A method to measure minute displacements, such as ground displacements, by analyzing phase differences between two reflected waves. Land Displacement Monitoring (LDM) uses this technique to detect variations over time.
■ Satellite solution: Land Displacement Monitoring (LDM) service
Land Displacement Monitoring (LDM) uses SAR satellite data analysis technology (InSAR) to detect ground deformation with millimeter-level precision over wide areas, delivering time-series data through an interactive online platform. This solution has been successfully implemented in Japan and internationally for applications such as ground risk monitoring in natural resource mining, assessing ground impacts in underground construction projects, and overseeing hydroelectric power generation facilities.
■ About Collaborating Companies
Yokogawa Electric Corporation
Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations. Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 126 companies spanning 60 countries.
https://www.yokogawa.com/
Insight Terra
Insight Terra specialises in environmental risk management and offers a platform that transforms complex data into actionable insights. By focusing on real-time analytics, the platform enables organisations to monitor and mitigate their environmental impact effectively, improving sustainability and compliance efforts.
https://www.insightterra.com/
SRK Consulting
SRK is an independent, international consultancy providing focused advice and solutions to clients, mainly in the earth and water resource industries. For mining projects, they offer services from exploration to mine closure. Their specialists are leaders in fields such as due diligence, technical studies, mine waste and water management, permitting, and mine rehabilitation. Applying extensive knowledge and experience, their consultants develop innovative approaches and practical techniques that meet clients’ unique needs and financial objectives. Among their clients are many of the world’s major, medium-sized, and junior metal and industrial mining houses, exploration companies, financial institutions, EPCM firms, and government departments.
https://www.srk.com/
■ About Synspective Inc.
Synspective Inc., founded in 2018, develops and operates Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites and provides SAR data and analytics solutions. We aim to develop a constellation of 30 SAR satellites by the late 2020s, allowing us to create a new system that can observe changes anywhere on Earth. With a SAR satellite constellation that enables high-frequency and high-resolution Earth observation, Synspective delivers satellite data and various analytics solutions for disaster response and management, national security, and environmental monitoring.
https://synspective.com/