Seeing the Invisible

In the mining world, some of the most dangerous threats are the ones you can’t see—at least not with the naked eye. Subtle shifts in terrain. Slow-motion ground deformation. Tiny cracks in a tailings dam wall. These invisible signs, if left undetected, can lead to catastrophic failures.

This is where InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) steps in—a satellite-based technology that’s quietly revolutionizing how the mining industry monitors its most critical assets.

What is InSAR, in Simple Terms?

InSAR uses radar signals from satellites to detect minute changes in the Earth's surface—often in the millimeter range. By comparing radar images of the same location taken at different times, InSAR can measure how the ground has moved vertically or horizontally.

Think of it like “remote sensing time-lapse photography,” but in high precision and invisible wavelengths.

Tailings Dams: The Silent Time Bombs

Tailings dams, which store the slurry waste from mining, have become high-risk assets in recent years—especially after disasters like:

• Brumadinho (Brazil, 2019): 270+ lives lost.

• Samarco (Brazil, 2015): Massive environmental destruction.

Both were preceded by subtle geotechnical failures—the kind that InSAR could have detected early.

How InSAR Helps:

• Early Warning of Structural Instability
  InSAR can detect surface heave or settlement on the dam walls or foundation area, even before cracks form or sensors trigger alarms.

• Historical Deformation Analysis
  By analyzing archived satellite images, engineers can trace patterns of deformation over months or years.

• 24/7 Remote Monitoring
  No need to send teams into hazardous zones. InSAR provides regular updates from orbit—often every 6 to 12 days (depending on the satellite).

• Independent Verification
  InSAR data acts as a third-party source for audit trails, ESG reports, or even insurance compliance.

Sentinel-1, TerraSAR-X, and ICEYE are among the key satellite platforms providing data for tailings monitoring globally.

Underground Mines: Detecting Subsidence Before It Hits the Surface

When mining moves underground, problems don’t disappear—they go invisible. Subsidence from underground voids can cause:

• Ground collapse

• Damage to nearby infrastructure

• Long-term community displacement

How InSAR Helps:

• Detects Even Minor Surface Subsidence
  Changes as small as 1–2 mm per month can be picked up—far beyond what a traditional ground survey could catch.

• Covers Large, Remote Areas
  InSAR is ideal for coalfields, salt mines, and deep metal mines in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Odisha, where terrain is tough and human monitoring is limited.

• Integrates with Other Systems
  Combine InSAR data with LiDAR, drone photogrammetry, or IoT ground sensors to create a multi-layered geotechnical monitoring system.

Real-World Application:

In Poland’s Upper Silesian Basin, InSAR has been used for over a decade to track ground movement from underground coal mines. In India, IIT-Roorkee and NRSC (ISRO) are collaborating on pilots to bring InSAR-based monitoring to coal belts.

Limitations (Because No Tech is Magic)

• Requires Skilled Interpretation: Raw data is complex and needs experts in geospatial analysis.

• Best for Vertical Movement: Lateral shifts are harder to detect.

• Vegetation and Snow Cover Can Interfere: Though newer satellites (e.g., ICEYE's SAR) perform better here.

Still, these limitations are manageable, especially compared to the risk of no data at all.

Why Now is the Time to Adopt InSAR in India

With mining activity expanding and ESG scrutiny tightening, India’s mining operators are under pressure to adopt smarter, verifiable, and scalable monitoring systems.

InSAR offers:

• Low-cost, wide-area surveillance

• Independent third-party data (great for public accountability)

• Real-time risk mitigation

And best of all, it doesn’t require expensive equipment or on-site deployment.

At Ecomine, We’re Helping Mines Adopt InSAR

We work with mines to:

• Integrate InSAR-based deformation tracking into their ESG reporting

• Combine it with dust, water, and biodiversity monitoring

• Train local teams to interpret and act on satellite alerts

Because in the end, you can’t manage what you can’t see—and InSAR lets you see more than ever before.