Monitoring the Progress of Mine Site Vegetation Rehabilitation Using Satellite Imagery

Kingston, Mitchell (2017) Monitoring the Progress of Mine Site Vegetation Rehabilitation Using Satellite Imagery. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

Mining has been a significant industry in Australia since the discovery gold in the 19th century, to the iron ore and nickel flourishes of the 1960’s and more recently the growth of the coal industry and other fuelling minerals. The benefits from mining in Australia are great, including a high rate of economic growth, record low levels of unemployment and increasing incomes for Australians. However, the scar which the extraction of these materials has left on our native vegetation can and has been drastic.

The aim of this study was to determine the vegetation rehabilitation progress of a mine site in inland central Queensland which has been extended through several stages of development. The extent and destruction of Goonyella Riverside Mine’s vegetation to date is compared to the extent and destruction of the vegetation while the mine is in full operation and before mining had commenced.

This research project used satellite imagery and GIS techniques to identify the success of vegetation rehabilitation in the subject area. Three images were collected including a mixture of Landsat imagery types. The main software used to analyse the images was ArcGIS which determined the amount of vegetation in the subject areas. This was then analysed and compared over the time periods to determine the progress of the mine rehabilitation.

The results from this project proved that this method can be utilised to monitor vegetation rehabilitation. The success shown from the process is therefore recommended to be utilised for future monitoring of vegetation and rehabilitation programs.


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Item Type: USQ Project
Item Status: Live Archive
Additional Information: Bachelor of Engineering (Surveying)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021)
Supervisors: Apan, Armando
Date Deposited: 07 Sep 2022 04:26
Last Modified: 07 Sep 2022 04:26
Uncontrolled Keywords: mining; site vegetation rehabilitation; satellite imagery
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/40860

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