Integration of hyperspectral and LiDAR data for mapping small water bodies

Inland water bodies are globally threatened by environmental degradation and climate change. On the other hand, new water bodies can be designed during landscape restoration (e.g. after coal mining). Effective management of new water resources requires continuous monitoring; in situ surveys are, however, extremely time-demanding. Remote sensing has been widely used for identifying water bodies. However, the use of optical imagery is constrained by accuracy problems related to the difficulty in distinguishing water features from other surfaces with low albedo, such as tree shadows. This is especially true when mapping water bodies of different sizes. To address these problems, we evaluated the potential of integrating hyperspectral data with LiDAR (hereinafter “integrative approach”). The study area consisted of several spoil heaps containing heterogeneous water bodies with a high variability of shape and size. We utilized object-based classification (Support Vector Machine) based on: (i) hyperspectral data; (ii) LiDAR variables; (iii) integration of both datasets. Besides, we classified hyperspectral data using pixel-based approaches (K-mean, spectral angle mapper). Individual approaches (hyperspectral data, LiDAR data and integrative approach) resulted in 2–22.4 % underestimation of the water surface area (i.e, omission error) and 0.4–1.5 % overestimation (i.e., commission error).The integrative approach yielded an improved discrimination of open water surface compared to other approaches (omission error of 2 % and commission error of 0.4 %). We also evaluated the success of detecting individual ponds; the integrative approach was the only one capable of detecting the water bodies with both omission and commission errors below 10 %. Finally, the assessment of misclassification reasons showed a successful elimination of shadows in the integrative approach. Our findings demonstrate that the integration of hyperspectral and LiDAR data can greatly improve the identification of small water bodies and can be applied in practice to support mapping of restoration process.     

Some problems associated with past mining at a mine in the Witbank coalfield, South Africa

 Mining in the Witbank Coalfield commenced at the turn of the century. Initially there was little environmental degradation associated with mining activities; however, in the late 1930s and early 1940s a pillar-robbing programme commenced. At one particular mine this has had marked effects on the environment. Primary effects include subsidence, the appearance of tension cracks at the surface and crownhole development. Secondary effects include spontaneous combustion of the coal worked, as air has been provided with ready access to the mine, accelerated subsidence due to the strength of many pillars being reduced by burning, and a marked deterioration in groundwater quality in the area. Spoil heaps also form blemishes on the landscape. These contain significant amounts of coal and have undergone spontaneous combustion. The deterioration in the water quality has led to the decimation of vegetation in some areas and the eradication of aquatic flora and fauna in a nearby stream. Received: 5 March 1997 · Accepted: 1 July 1997     

Stability of waste spoils in an area strip mine—geological and geotechnical considerations

Results of investigations into the stability of coal mine spoil consisting of thick clay, saturated sand, and shale overburden in an areal strip mine are presented. Atterberg limits, particle size distributions, and compaction tests were performed to provide index characteristics of the materials. Unconsolidated undrained and consolidated undrained triaxial compression test results on 10·2 cm diameter samples of compacted shale and shale-soil mixtures were used to investigate the short-term and the long-term conditions respectively of the spoil slope. There is evidence that the failure envelope of mine spoil made up of shale or shale-soil mixture is curved. However, stability analyses reveal that the use of strength parameters defined by a linear Mohr-Coulomb envelope yields results that are comparable with those obtained when the non-linear failure envelope is used, provided that such strength parameters are defined at the operating normal stress level on the failure surface. The study illustrates a very good case of spoil instability resulting from very thick overburden soils of low strength and high water content. Results show that the key to achieving stability in such areas lies in an almost total segregation of the soils from the rocks.     

连续降雨下不同砾石含量工程堆积体土壤侵蚀

为探究砾石对工程堆积体土壤侵蚀的影响与其作用机制,通过室内模拟降雨研究了连续降雨下不同砾石含量的重壤质堆积体水蚀过程。结果表明:①堆积体砾石含量增加,坡面产流历时延长,产流率线性减小,土壤剥蚀率降低;②连续降雨下,堆积体所含砾石主要通过对坡面产流历时、坡面产流率、砾石覆盖率的多重影响发挥减沙作用,主成分回归方程可表达多个变量与平均土壤剥蚀率的关系;③一定砾石含量下,堆积体坡面砾石覆盖率随表土的剥离而增大,导致土壤剥蚀率呈指数函数递减趋势,并与累积土壤侵蚀总量存在较好的函数关系。工程堆积体所含砾石对土壤侵蚀程度的削减可为生产建设项目下垫面水土保持治理提供重要参考。     

大冶铁矿废石场复垦及矿区可持续发展研究--以尖山废石场为例

大冶铁矿历史悠久 ,是武钢的主要矿石原料基地 ,目前的生产能力为每年 44 0万 t,长期的矿产开发创造了巨大的财富 ,也破坏了自然环境和生态系统 :尾矿库、废石场和采空区占用和破坏土地超过 3333333m2 ,矿区周围的水和土壤被污染。要改善生态环境 ,缓解矿区人多地少的矛盾 ,追求矿山的可持续发展 ,土地复垦迫在眉睫。针对尖山废石场现状及复垦适宜性等问题 ,在野外调研和取样分析的基础上 ,着重对废石场的农业复垦进行了规划和技术、经济评价 ,并提出了采用淤泥覆土的观点。同时对矿山土地复垦工作在资金、人力、工程技术等方面提出了一些建议。     

Spoil pile instabilities with reference to a strip coal mine in Turkey: mechanisms and assessment of deformations

With the increasing adoption of the surface mining of coal, problems associated with spoil pile instability, which affects resource recovery, mining cost, and safety and presents environmental hazards, have become a matter of prime concern to mine planners and operators. The study of geotechnical aspects is thus very important in the rational planning for the disposal, reclamation, treatment and utilization of spoil material. A strip coal mine, one of the largest open pit mines in Turkey, is located in Central Anatolia and provides coal to a thermal power station. Coal production is carried out in two adjacent open pits, the Central Pit and South Pit. A large-scale spoil pile instability over an area of 0.3 km² occurred within the dumping area of the Central pit. In addition, small-scale movement occurred in the outside dumping area. This paper outlines the results of field and laboratory investigations to describe the mechanisms of the spoil pile instabilities and to assess deformations monitored over a long period following the failure. Shear test results indicate that the interface between the floor and spoil material dumped by dragline has a negligible cohesion and is the most critical plane of weakness for spoil pile instability. Back analyses based on the method of limit equilibrium and the numerical modelling technique, and observations in the pit revealed that failure occurred along a combined sliding surface consisting of a circular surface through the spoil material itself and a planar surface passing along the interface between the spoil piles and floor. The analyses also indicated that pore water pressure ratios of about 0.25 satisfy limiting equilibrium condition and that rainfall about one month before the failure may be a contributing factor to the instability. Movement monitoring data obtained following the failure over a 1.5-year period suggested that the ongoing deformations were mainly due to compaction of the spoil material. Based on the monitoring data and the results of the analyses, the failure mode of the local instability occurring at the outside dumping area was considerably similar to that of the large instability.     

Seasonal development dynamics of microbocenoses and complexes of invertebrates on overburden heaps of the Borodinskoye brown-coal mine (KATEK)

We have investigated the seasonal-dynamics parameters of functioning of microbocenoses and invertebrate complexes on overburden heaps of different ages as well as the recultivation technology for of the Borodinskoye brown-coal mine. The 20-year-old overburden heap with typical natural reforestation and formation of a coarse-humus horizon was characterized by the largest balance of microbiological processes of organic matter destruction, and by high numbers and diversity of microarthropods. The youngest heaps are characterized by an unbalance between organic matter mineralization-immobilization processes and predominance of pioneer invertebrate groups in the community.