Abstract
The lignite surface mines often occupy large areas to develop the mining activities: pits, dumping areas, bunkers, buildings, workshops, and other auxiliary facilities. The land reclamation methods and the corresponding land use alternatives after the mine closure constitute an important part of an integrated mining planning. In the present contribution, the main parameters of geospatial planning are investigated in order to assess the changes in land uses in a mining area and to correlate them with the spatiotemporal development of the extraction works. As a case study, geospatial analysis of the current situation in Ptolemais mines is presented. In particular, seven dumping areas are assessed regarding their suitability for specific land uses. The assessment is based on the following criteria: a) slope gradient, b) reclamation works already completed, c) slope aspect, d) proximity to the road network, and e) proximity to residential areas. Furthermore, the ArcGis software is used to compile the layer maps of the corresponding parameters.
Highlights
The land cover and use changes are significant factors that directly affect various economic activities and modify the earth’s global and regional climate and environmental conditions
Many land cover/use research results have been identified through international literature review, concerning the urban and marine environment, but few about surface mining areas
Land cover and use studies provide valuable information that can be used for updating land management strategies [7]
Summary
The land cover and use changes are significant factors that directly affect various economic activities and modify the earth’s global and regional climate and environmental conditions. Many land cover/use research results have been identified through international literature review, concerning the urban and marine environment, but few about surface mining areas. Land cover is the physical material at the earth's surface, whereas land use involves managing and modifying the natural environment by human activity. Land use by humans has a long history, first emerging more than 10 thousand years ago. These two terms are often erroneously used interchangeably; each term has a particular meaning [8]. Land cover can be determined by analyzing satellite and aerial imagery, whereas land use cannot
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