Instrumentation & monitoring | GIS for tailings
Rebecca Kahrhoff of Esri explains how ArcGIS is enabling a more integrated, spatially informed approach to tailings dam management, supporting improved monitoring, safety, and regulatory compliance across the full lifecycle of facilities
THE MANAGEMENT OF TAILINGS storage facilities (TSFs) is becoming increasingly data-intensive, requiring operators to integrate large volumes of geotechnical, environmental, and monitoring information. Geographic information systems (GIS) are playing a growing role in addressing this challenge by providing a framework to capture, manage, analyse, and visualise data within its spatial context. Developed by Esri, ArcGIS is a comprehensive
GIS platform that enables organisations to combine location-based data with descriptive attributes. This allows users to create layered digital maps that reveal spatial patterns and relationships that are not apparent in traditional tabular formats. ArcGIS operates across a connected ecosystem of
desktop, server, cloud, and mobile applications. ArcGIS Pro provides a desktop environment for advanced mapping and spatial analysis, while ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise enable organisations to share and manage geospatial content. Field applications, including ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Survey123, extend these capabilities to mobile devices, allowing personnel to collect and update data directly from site in real time. A key capability of the platform is its ability to integrate multiple data streams within a single spatial framework. These may include sensor telemetry, survey data, drone imagery, satellite data, and inspection records. Through dashboards, automated alerts, and analytical tools, ArcGIS supports the interpretation of this data and enables more informed decision-making.
Supporting the full lifecycle ArcGIS can be applied across all stages of tailings dam
management, from planning and design through to
closure. During the planning phase, GIS supports site selection by integrating geotechnical, hydrological, topographic, and environmental datasets. Engineers can model watershed boundaries, assess flood routing scenarios, and identify downstream receptors within a spatial context. This can support both technical analysis and communication with regulators and stakeholders. In the construction phase, ArcGIS enables the tracking
of material placement, as-built conditions, and quality assurance data. Field teams can use mobile applications to record progress, capture georeferenced photographs, and document any deviations from design. This creates a digital record of the facility as it is constructed. During operations, ArcGIS is used to integrate and visualise monitoring data from instrumentation such as piezometers, inclinometers, settlement gauges, and survey systems. Dashboards allow engineers to view current readings, analyse trends, and set threshold-based alerts. Importantly, this data is presented in its spatial context, enabling users to understand where readings are occurring in relation to the structure of the dam. In the closure and reclamation phase, GIS supports
long-term monitoring and reporting. Satellite and drone imagery can be used to assess vegetation and landform development, while inspection data can be recorded and managed within the same system. Historical and current datasets can be compared to support regulatory reporting and demonstrate closure performance.
Practical applications ArcGIS has been used in a range of tailings management
applications globally. One common use case is the monitoring of piezometric water levels within embankments. Sensor data can be streamed into
Example of Esri real-time piezometer dashboard
34 | May 2026 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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