Copernicus for Raw Materials: making the potential fully operational @ Raw Materials Week 2018

Earth observation data (made available by Copernicus) represent a real asset for the sustainable mining life cycle: exploration; extraction; closure and post-closure. Economic, social and environmental sustainability of the extractive industries can strongly benefit from services and products based on satellite data.

During the workshop, the potential will be illustrated by some initiatives that have been developed by the private sector and research projects for exploration, environmental and safety monitoring of extraction and mining waste disposal and others. The illustrations will be based on initiatives from the EU and from third countries (with a particular focus on some advanced mining countries).

It will be demonstrated that these Earth observation data-based services are beneficial for both the private sector and public authorities who lie the responsibility for supervising the environmental and safety performance of mining activities and long-term post-closure monitoring. At the same time, it will be discussed how to best unlock the full potential, so far underexplored and/or underexploited.

During the workshop we will discuss:

What benefits do the Earth observation data-based services and products bring to the different phases of the mining life cycle? How can these services contribute to the economic, social and environmental mining sustainability? What are the end users’ (private and public) expectations and needs? What is the state of play of the services based on Earth observation data for the mining life cycle? Which services are more matured and which needs to be further developed? How does the EU compare with some advanced mining countries on the use of these services?

Who should attend?

• Extractive industry;
• Mining authorities and other public entities with competences to supervise extractive activities (including mining waste disposal);
• Services and products developers;
• Academia, geological surveys and other research entities.

Why is it important to attend?

This workshop represents an opportunity to bring together the services & products developers and the end users across the mining lifecycle, to make the full potential of the Earth observation data a reality.

EIT RawMaterials at Copernicus session

Our innovation community will be represented by Wesley Crock, EIT RawMaterials, and Elsy Ibrahim, Université de Liège, who will give a presentation at the Copernicus session.