As global demand for raw materials intensifies due to the material needs of digitalization and decarbonization, the new MINE-THE-GAP project aims to address a critical knowledge gap in mining's environmental and social impacts by creating scalable, reliable mining indicators using advanced satellite data and artificial intelligence (AI).
Despite the seeming abundance of data, mining operations remain under-measured, even within the European Union. Essential information about mine locations, waste generation, and extracted minerals is often incomplete or outdated, hindering sustainable development efforts worldwide.
The new MINE-THE-GAP project led by Victor Maus, a researcher in the Novel Data Ecosystems for Sustainability Research Group of the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis Program, aims to address this issue and is one of the projects selected for a European Research Council Consolidator Grant. These grants aim to support outstanding scientists and scholars as they establish their independent research teams and develop their most promising scientific ideas. The funding is provided through the EU's Horizon Europe Programme.
"The MINE-THE-GAP project was inspired by the surprising lack of detailed spatial information about mining operations worldwide," explains Maus. "These gaps leave researchers with only a partial understanding of the industry's impacts, hindering their ability to assess decarbonization strategies and to inform policy and decision making."
By integrating high-precision satellite data with cutting-edge AI models, the project aims to bridge this gap and provide the tools necessary for effective monitoring and transparency. MINE-THE-GAP will provide mine-level indicators, including on land use, waste generation, and extracted minerals, that are timely, locally relevant, and globally consistent.
"Detailed mapping of mining activities is vital for understanding their environmental impacts," notes Maus. "This project aligns closely with global sustainability goals by providing methods and data needed to combat climate change, protect ecosystems and biodiversity, and enforce ethical sourcing standards."
The project's outcomes will contribute to enforcing European supply chain transparency laws and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As the mining sector is growing rapidly, MINE-THE-GAP's contributions will lay the foundation for monitoring the expected mining expansion globally, and provide the best possible data to assess potential impacts and risks.
"Knowing where and how mining impacts occur helps us hold stakeholders accountable and promotes informed decision-making at all levels," Maus concludes.
Hosted by the Vienna University of Economics and Business, the MINE-THE-GAP project will collaborate with researchers worldwide, including those from IIASA, to ensure a global reach and impact.
