US-based artisanal and small-scale mining support services and product marketing company Makor Resources and UK-based environmental data collection tools provider AUYAN have announced that they have received funding from the British national innovation agency, Innovate UK, to develop their joint Project Sensr360. The value of the funding was not released.

Project Sensr360 is aimed at using satellite imagery, other remote sensing technologies, and AI, to create a monitoring system to evaluate and measure the risks associated with investments in mining and other capital-intensive environmentally and socially sensitive sectors. The UK funding will help drive forward the technical development, on-the-ground verification and commercialisation of the system.

“As the energy transition intensifies, so does the demand for critical minerals,” explains Makor CEO Brooke Bibeault. “The affordability and speed of the energy transition will be heavily influenced by the availability of critical mineral supplies and could further push mining into environmentally and socially sensitive areas. The industry finds itself at a crossroads, seeking innovative ways to meet the world’s resource demands while minimising its impact on the environment and the local communities, fostering responsible mining practices and guaranteeing sustainable development.”

“Satellite imaging provides a layer of information that complements data from in-situ remote sensors at mines,” points out AUYAN founder and key development partner Alix Leroy. “Our technology allows us to monitor the impact of mining activity over time, detecting potential environmental risks through wastewater monitoring and vegetation change detection. Remote sensing boosted by AI supports automating assessment of environmental risks in the mining sector in a scalable, cost-effective and more accurate fashion. This leads to actionable insights being produced faster, near real-time, and with great accuracy.”

The purpose of Project Sensr360 is to support due diligence and investment de-risking by providing comprehensive situational awareness through continuous and real-time monitoring of mining operations and their environmental and social impacts. That real-time monitoring translates into the provision of near real-time data on land use and degradation, water resources and contamination locations, deforestation, migration and movement, safety measures, illicit activities, infrastructure development and permit registration. Such information is essential for responsible energy transition mining and climate change mitigation.

The system is innovative, accessible and cost-efficient. It is aimed at junior miners, who do not have the resources of the major mining groups, who can afford current satellite imagery, AI, and advanced data analysis capabilities.

“A number of the resources required for a just transition sit in Africa, and significant amounts of external investment – both financial and human capital – are required to make the sustainable extraction of this possible,” highlights Makor Chairperson Ricus Grimbeek. “Sensr360’s solution offers investors detailed insights to make informed and responsible investment decisions. It provides continuous and real-time monitoring of virtually all activities to secure the capital-intensive investment over a long-dated period.”