Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts

Mining waste management is a significant environmental challenge that requires effective technical and economic solutions. In this context, the use of underground storage systems is sometimes a viable option to isolate this type of mining waste from the outside (especially when it poses a risk of en...

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Main Authors: Cristina Sáez Blázquez, Miguel Ángel Maté-González, Sergio Alejandro Camargo Vargas, Ignacio Martín Nieto, Vasileios Protonotarios, Diego González-Aguilera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1911
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author Cristina Sáez Blázquez
Miguel Ángel Maté-González
Sergio Alejandro Camargo Vargas
Ignacio Martín Nieto
Vasileios Protonotarios
Diego González-Aguilera
author_facet Cristina Sáez Blázquez
Miguel Ángel Maté-González
Sergio Alejandro Camargo Vargas
Ignacio Martín Nieto
Vasileios Protonotarios
Diego González-Aguilera
author_sort Cristina Sáez Blázquez
collection DOAJ
description Mining waste management is a significant environmental challenge that requires effective technical and economic solutions. In this context, the use of underground storage systems is sometimes a viable option to isolate this type of mining waste from the outside (especially when it poses a risk of environmental contamination). Despite the applicability and advantages of these structures, it is crucial to conduct thorough monitoring of the isolation and containment measures implemented during their construction. This study demonstrates how ground penetrating radar techniques can provide valuable insights into subsurface insulation layers with the aim of detecting potential water accumulation at depth and verifying the integrity of the seal and the state of buried materials. The results of the georadar survey applied on a mining case study demarcate the areas that should receive more attention in the near future and contribute to defining the most urgent actions to be implemented at the mining site. Beyond the evaluation of the 2D profiles, the research culminates in the creation of a 3D visualization tool for the entire mining site and its insulation layer, enabling users to inspect the structure’s condition at any location and obtain accurate depth measurements.
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-ef893d5f5caf4f3984da9192cfd09aaa2025-08-20T02:33:08ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-05-011711191110.3390/rs17111911Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining ContextsCristina Sáez Blázquez0Miguel Ángel Maté-González1Sergio Alejandro Camargo Vargas2Ignacio Martín Nieto3Vasileios Protonotarios4Diego González-Aguilera5Cartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainCartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainCartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainCartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainLavrion Technological and Cultural Park, 19500 Lavrion, GreeceCartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainMining waste management is a significant environmental challenge that requires effective technical and economic solutions. In this context, the use of underground storage systems is sometimes a viable option to isolate this type of mining waste from the outside (especially when it poses a risk of environmental contamination). Despite the applicability and advantages of these structures, it is crucial to conduct thorough monitoring of the isolation and containment measures implemented during their construction. This study demonstrates how ground penetrating radar techniques can provide valuable insights into subsurface insulation layers with the aim of detecting potential water accumulation at depth and verifying the integrity of the seal and the state of buried materials. The results of the georadar survey applied on a mining case study demarcate the areas that should receive more attention in the near future and contribute to defining the most urgent actions to be implemented at the mining site. Beyond the evaluation of the 2D profiles, the research culminates in the creation of a 3D visualization tool for the entire mining site and its insulation layer, enabling users to inspect the structure’s condition at any location and obtain accurate depth measurements.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1911ground penetrating radarmining sitesstructure monitoring2D and 3D modellinginsulationwater accumulation
spellingShingle Cristina Sáez Blázquez
Miguel Ángel Maté-González
Sergio Alejandro Camargo Vargas
Ignacio Martín Nieto
Vasileios Protonotarios
Diego González-Aguilera
Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts
Remote Sensing
ground penetrating radar
mining sites
structure monitoring
2D and 3D modelling
insulation
water accumulation
title Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts
title_full Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts
title_fullStr Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts
title_full_unstemmed Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts
title_short Ground Penetrating Radar for the Exploration of Complex Mining Contexts
title_sort ground penetrating radar for the exploration of complex mining contexts
topic ground penetrating radar
mining sites
structure monitoring
2D and 3D modelling
insulation
water accumulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1911
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AT ignaciomartinnieto groundpenetratingradarfortheexplorationofcomplexminingcontexts
AT vasileiosprotonotarios groundpenetratingradarfortheexplorationofcomplexminingcontexts
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