GIS-APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN MINING AREAS ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE MOLTENO COAL FIELD, INDWE, EASTERN CAPE

References: 17th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2017, www.sgem.org, SGEM2017 Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-619-7408-03-4 / ISSN 1314-2704, 29 June - 5 July, 2017, Vol. 17, Issue 23, 535-540 pp, DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017/23/S11.066

ABSTRACT

Responsible and successful environmental management is necessary for protecting and restoring the natural environment. The interdependency of the earth’s ecosystems and the human impact on the environment present complex challenges to governments and businesses as well as scientists and environmentalists in every discipline. Environmental contamination due to mining in South Africa gradually draws consideration from decision makers and local residents. Ecological awareness within the mining companies also rises as they realize the essential of environmental measures and sustainable development strategies. Many efforts are made to combat environmental pollution. Along this path, it became clear that decision makers in the mining companies face a severe absence of evidence. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are a likely solution as they deliver not only tools for storage and management of data but also tools for assessment and visualization. This study aims at contributing to close the information gap by developing methods of collecting, managing and reporting environmental information. The developed methods are tested in one of the Molteno coal mining areas. Combination of data and their visualization in a map based environmental report lets decision makers to estimate the significance of procedures and their impacts. Thus, environmental protection investments can be introduced on concrete data and science-based estimates of impacts.

Keywords: Environmental contamination, Geographic information system, Molteno formation, environmental impact