The special session, organized within the framework of the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention (CoP-13), will introduce participants to the application of satellite monitoring technologies, specifically Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), for improving tailings safety. Tailings management facilities (TMFs) pose significant risks to people, economies and the environment, with failures often leading to catastrophic consequences, including transboundary pollution. The special session will explore the potential of the InSAR technology to enhance the early detection and prevention of tailings dam failures.
The session will begin with an overview of satellite monitoring technologies and their relevance to industrial safety, with a particular focus on InSAR’s capabilities in measuring ground deformations at millimeter-scale accuracy. Speakers from different sectors, including the industry, will then present practical case studies on their use of InSAR to enhance the monitoring of tailings dams, detect stability issues early on and therefore prevent tailings dam failures. The special session will also review the benefits and limitations of satellite-based monitoring, as well as the legal and technical aspects of incorporating such technologies into existing industrial safety practices. The audience will have a possibility to ask questions and engage in a discussion with the speakers in the end.
By the end of the special session, participants will be equipped with practical knowledge on the use of InSAR for TMF monitoring, and how the technology can support the objectives of the Industrial Accidents Convention. Following the seminar, the Conference of the Parties will be invited to consider integrating satellite monitoring technologies into the Convention’s workstreams and explore potential collaborations with stakeholders in the space and geospatial industries.
The special session will be held at Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on 29 November 2024, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., with interpretation available in English, French, and Russian.
For further inquiries, please contact: [email protected].
Documents
InSAR Paper - Overview of satellite monitoring and its potential application for and contribution to tailings safety and the work of the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention: ENG
Concept note and programme of the special session: ENG RUS
Presentations
Leveraging Satellite Technology for Disaster Response: UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping and InSAR Applications for Damage Assessment - UNOSAT
Overview of Copernicus and opportunities for hazards prevention, preparedness, and response - DG DEFIS EU
Practical application of satellite-based technologies for monitoring TSFs and early-warning - GLENCORE
Sattelite Based Risk Assessments an Monitoring - VALUE SPACE
Applicability of InSAR to Detect TMF Failure Modes: Lessons from Case Studies - ICOLD