Dynamic Matrix for an Adaptive Environment Management in Mining: A Feed-engineering Alternative?

Abstract

Environment impacts are usually determined by quantification or an evaluation system derived from several methodologies including environmental assessment, matrices, and data cross-referencing. This study uses a dataset obtained from validated mining Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), some monitoring reports and scientific insights on open-pit mines (OPM). The purpose here is to build a dynamic matrix system over time to facilitate a systemic evaluation of environmental impacts and to find in-depth preventive measures in any OPM. The four dynamic matrices are built with qualitative and numerical values in both magnitude and significance terms. As one of the issues is to minimize negative risks in OPMs, one outcome points out the environmental factors of mining operations sensitive to the variations over time and the variability of the parameters themselves. The results show secondly that the data (qualitative and quantitative) vary from EIA stage to a post EIA status like activities or environmental factors numbers. Thirdly, the impact of activities on each part of environment components and the incidence of all activities during the mines’ life cycle is easier to identify whatever the data density. In the fourth line, this paper indicates that the dynamic matrix in an optimal alternative in the process of determining preventive measures to mitigate the risks and the need for an interactive environmental follow-up program in mining or similar industry. This approach reduces the following-up monitoring weaknesses and allows managers, as a multi-criterion decision-making approach, to take enlightened actions.