Abstract
This research article presents a software module for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of open pit mines. The EIA software module has been developed based on the comprehensive examination of both country-specific (namely, Kazakhstan) and current international regulatory frameworks, legislation and EIA methodologies. EIA frameworks and methods have been critically evaluated, and mathematical models have been developed and implemented in the GIS software module ‘3D Quarry’. The proposed methodology and software module allows for optimised EIA calculations of open pit mines, aiming to minimise the negative impacts on the environment. The study presents an original methodology laid out as a basis for a software module for environmental impact assessment on atmosphere, water basins, soil and subsoil, tailored to the context of mining operations in Kazakhstan. The proposed software module offers an alternative to commercial off-the-shelf software packages currently used in the mining industry and is suitable for small mining operators in post-Soviet countries. It is anticipated that applications of the proposed software module will enable the transition to sustainable development in the Kazakh mining industry.
Highlights
This paper provides a case study of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) parameter calculations using the proposed EIA software module within the integrated
The result of the research is a development of the software module ‘EIA’ a part of the web application ‘3D Quarry’ (See Figures 1 and 2)
Original algorithms for assessing the environmental impact of open pit mining of mineral deposits were developed with reference to the country-specific regulatory frameworks [26,27,28,29], adding to the international body of knowledge dedicated to the EIA approaches in the mining industry [14,15,16,17,18,19,21,22,23,24,25]
Summary
Open pit mines create environmental risks, including the pollution of the atmosphere, noise exposure, contamination of surface and ground waters, impacts on biodiversity due to natural land transformation and loss of habitat, as well as community and cultural impacts, such as displacement of livelihoods and economic effects [2,3,4]. Mining companies are increasingly scrutinised by legislative and industry standards to minimise the negative impact on the environment by adhering to the tenets of environmental impact assessment (EIA) frameworks. EIA is usually undertaken at the initiation of the mining project and business case submission to relevant authorities. It outlines the anticipated scale of environmental impact and lays out initiatives for reducing and addressing negative impacts and achieving rational use of natural resources. Acceptance of the EIA report or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is one of the necessary conditions for the government to authorise exploration and mine design activities and for the mining
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