Effective management and prompt response to failures in tailing dams are critical for environmental and human safety. Improperly managed or failed tailing dams can release large amounts of toxic waste and chemicals, contaminating nearby waterways and land. The risks associated with tailing dams depend on various factors, including the design and construction of the dam, the type of tailings being stored, local climate and weather patterns, and the level of maintenance and monitoring.
It is important for mining companies and governments to ensure the safe and effective management of tailing dams to prevent failures. Preventive measures include implementing strict safety regulations, regularly monitoring and maintaining tailing dams, and investing in new technologies and operational practices that reduce the risk of failure. Communities and stakeholders must be aware of the risks associated with tailing dams and advocate for strong safety measures and regulations to protect the environment and public health.
Despite the known dangers of tailing dam mismanagement, there are no automated engineering simulation decision support systems specifically designed for “what-if” scenario analysis in tailing dam operations. The Tailing Dam Analyzer (TD Analyzer) developed by SIGHTPOWER offers variant analysis for tailing dam monitoring data processing, proposes effective responses to potential disastrous scenarios, and provides critical decision support for defining optimal or acceptable solutions in urgent situations. Wrong decisions in such scenarios can lead to severe consequences, including human casualties, environmental damage, and significant financial losses.
The TD Analyzer is an extension of the Mine Advisor™ platform, deployable on-premises or in the cloud. It features a powerful 3D/4D visualization engine enhanced by augmented and mixed reality technology and includes financial and economic assessment tools. No special hydrological, mathematical, or physical background is required from the user. The combined engineering and environmental data model is based on topography, hydrogeological information, landscaping data, and engineering data about the dam. Data model compilation mostly occurs during data import from third-party systems or external sources. The TD Analyzer offers a user-friendly interface for setting up alternative management or failure control scenarios and implements unique slurry spreading algorithms.
Traditionally, such solutions are developed in universities or R&D organizations and rarely reach industrial quality. The TD Analyzer stands out as it is accessible to decision-makers in critical situations. It is also applicable for analyzing dam failures at electrical power stations and similar infrastructural disasters.
