Digital Technology Assessment for Reclamation Certification in Alberta

Earth observation (EO), remote sensing (RS), and other digital technologies are emerging as powerful tools for monitoring the environment and collecting environmental data. These technologies can be used to monitor vegetation, landscape features, soil, water bodies, and wetlands. Used in combination with ground-based data collection they can support reclamation assessment and compliance evaluation. Remote sensing technologies have been used in numerous studies across the globe to monitor reclamation success and have been similarly implemented in several jurisdictions. Recently drafted Alberta Directives for Reclamation Certification Site Assessment for Pits and Quarries in Cultivated and Forested Lands enable the use of new technology-based data collection to augment in-field assessments. Given the advances in EO/RS and digital technologies made in recent years, there is an opportunity to utilize these technologies in reclamation certification assessments in Alberta.
This report represents two related objectives. The first was to evaluate the applicability of EO, RS, and digital technologies for the collection of environmental data relevant to Alberta Reclamation Certification Site Assessment criteria. This report evaluates the evidence to support use of remote-sensed data to augment in-field assessments, considering especially assessments of accuracy and precision. The second objective was to determine if and how other jurisdictions have applied RS, EO, and other digital technologies to the regulation and enforcement of environmental policies related to reclamation. By examining relevant regulations, guidance documents, and government information sources, this report presents cases where these technologies have been applied by governments in Canada, Australia, and the United States of America to reclamation monitoring and assessment and similar environmental purposes.
There are numerous sensors and platforms for remote sensing and digital technologies, each with advantages and disadvantages. Sensors may be passive or active, with active sensors being less sensitive to obstruction by cloud cover. Passive sensors may be optical (i.e., panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, RGB cameras) or thermal. Active sensors include technologies such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and light detection and ranging (LiDAR). Platforms may be spaceborne, airborne, drone-based, or ground-based (i.e., mounted on vehicles). Combining multiple sensors can provide greater accuracy.
EO/RS have been used to assess land use and cover most frequently. With optical sensors it is possible to study vegetation form, health, biomass, and species composition. Technologies such as SAR and LiDAR enable the collection of detailed information regarding canopy structure and density. It is possible to study both overstory and understory plant species using appropriate sensors and platforms. Topography, elevation, and slope are mostly commonly assessed with LiDAR and interferometric SAR (InSAR). Soil properties can be assessed with optical and microwave sensors, although typically the sensors have a coarse resolution. Ground-based sensors, such as proximal soil sensors, may be more appropriate for reclamation sites in Alberta. Water bodies and wetlands are also commonly monitored with remote sensing technologies. When considering cultivated land, additional sensors (such as variable rate sensors) may be available that are not applicable to forested land. Authors typically reported good or moderate accuracy for digital technologies compared to in-field measurements, but accuracy varies depending on the site conditions, sensor, and platform.
When considering whether a particular sensor and platform are appropriate for Alberta reclamation assessment criteria on forested and cultivated lands, the spatial resolution, revisit frequency, and spectral configuration of the sensor and platform must be considered. For example, some technologies may only be operationally available at scales much larger than a reclamation site. In this report, remote sensing and digital technologies were evaluated against specific reclamation assessment criteria. The literature review revealed numerous applications of digital technologies that are directly applicable to reclamation criteria and monitoring in Alberta. Digital technologies have the potential to be used to supplement in-field data collection, however it should be noted that in most cases, the application of digital technologies will require in-field data collection as validation. There are opportunities to capitalize of the recent advances in remote sensing and digital technologies to enhance the reclamation certification process in Alberta.
Use of EO, RS, and digital technologies in an enforcement capacity is most common in Australia, although there is some usage in Canada and the United States of America. Generally, this enforcement is not specifically in the field of reclamation, but with regards to illegal activities on public lands (such as illegal vegetation removal). Use of these technologies is promoted in each country for reclamation monitoring, such as for vegetation cover and landform stability. Similarly, in other industries and sectors, such as forestry, the benefits of vegetation monitoring through RS, EO, and related digital technologies are also touted. Still, it is important to note that in all or nearly all cases, these technologies are paired with some degree of on-site ground truthing to verify accuracy of the data and related assumptions.
Many governments and research institutions are actively pursuing research projects that will further develop the use of RS, EO, and digital technologies, in order to improve the accuracy of data collected in this manner. Particular emphasis is being placed on developing standardized approaches that perform well in a variety of scenarios, such as standardized vegetation survey methods for a variety of ecosystems via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for example. There is ample opportunity to either benefit from these research projects, or participate in the development of a similar, standardized approach for Alberta.
The reviews completed indicate that there is opportunity for the use of EO, RS, and digital technologies to support reclamation assessment processes, and meet associated regulatory and compliance needs. In order to make use of these opportunities, additional validation must be completed to ensure that these technologies can be applied in a risk-managed approach.