Abstract:
This report investigates the viability of satellite remote sensing in monitoring the rehabilitation of coal
discard dumps. Four levels of thermal monitoring data were assessed in this project. These were:
ground and below surface temperature probes; aerial thermal and atmospheric monitoring surveys;
high altitude aircraft; and satellites.
Remote sensing methods measure only variation of temperatures on the surface of the dump. Fires on
discard dumps are sub-surface fires, and the depth and extent of the fire below the surface cannot be
easily inferred. The resolution of satellite sensors is a limiting factor for detecting individual hotspots
on dumps. Small mine dumps occupy just a few pixels and the position of fires cannot be accurately
assessed. Although the larger dumps are discernable, the variation of temperatures across the dump
cannot be easily determined.
For the present, aircraft monitoring may be the most viable means of monitoring spontaneous
combustion in coal discard dumps, until satellite resolutions improve further.
