High- resolution digital imagery for mining impact assessment studies in the central Appalachians

Charles B Yuill, WVU Resources Management, The Davis College. cyuill@wvu.edu

The application of high-resolution color and color infrared imagery to mining related environmental studies is proving to provide an effective base from which a number of important mining impacts can be assessed. Such aircraft platformed data can be collected at sub-meter resolutions providing highly detailed views of mine site parameters such as: revegetation species and success; drainage structure effectiveness; erosion patterns; spoil pile volumes and areas; and site adjacent land use contexts. These data have been efficiently collected for individual mine sites; larger study areas such as watersheds, and complete multi-county study areas. The data have also been merged with other remote sensing data such as older digital ortho quarter-quads and AISA hyperspectral data. In addition, with suitable flightline overlap controlled 3D stereoscopic views can be developed with suitable photogrammetric software.