The applicability of remote sensing methods for the detection of fires on coal discard dumps

[摘要] This report investigates the viability of satellite remote sensing in monitoring the rehabilitation of coaldiscard 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 ondiscard dumps are sub-surface fires, and the depth and extent of the fire below the surface cannot beeasily inferred. The resolution of satellite sensors is a limiting factor for detecting individual hotspotson dumps. Small mine dumps occupy just a few pixels and the position of fires cannot be accuratelyassessed. Although the larger dumps are discernable, the variation of temperatures across the dumpcannot be easily determined.For the present, aircraft monitoring may be the most viable means of monitoring spontaneouscombustion in coal discard dumps, until satellite resolutions improve further.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand