1167 REDEFINING RECLAMATION, MAKING MINERS THE HEROES WITH GREEEN CUBES *Erik Josefsson1, Stina Langenius2 1Chief Executive Officer, Hexagon / R-evolution, Sweden, (*Presenting author: Erik.josefsson@hexagon.com) 2Business Design, Hexagon / R-evolution, Sweden ABSTRACT Rising sustainability concerns and accelerating biodiversity loss are increasing regulatory and societal expectations for measurable environmental performance in mining. As a result, environmental impacts and restoration outcomes are now expected to be monitored and disclosed throughout the mining lifecycle, yet existing monitoring approaches remain fragmented, inconsistent, and difficult to integrate into operational decision‑making. This paper presents an applied digital reality solution for integrating multidimensional environmental data into mining workflows to support continuous environmental monitoring and restoration management. The approach combines remote sensing and in-situ technologies, including earth observation, airborne and terrestrial LiDAR, camera and audio traps, ground-penetrating radar, and eDNA techniques, into a digital platform representing terrestrial ecosystems. Environmental metrics are presented across volume, structural complexity, and biodiversity indication, enabling spatially explicit baselines and repeatable monitoring over time through a single digital platform. The framework is demonstrated through two active implementations in the extraction industry: Vale’s post-operational Águas Claras Mine and Samarco’s restoration and compensation areas in Brazil. Early outcomes indicate improved baseline establishment, environmental visibility, and stakeholder communication, including support for mine closure and future-use engagement, suggesting that integrated digital environmental monitoring can enhance transparency, decision relevance, and scalability, supporting more continuous and operationally embedded environmental management across the mining lifecycle. KEYWORDS Environmental management,Biodiversity, Mine closure and restoration.Digital reality, Sustainable mining 1. CONTEXT AND PROBLEM STATEMENT 1.1 Mining, Biodiversity, and the Need for Measurable Environmental Outcomes Global demand for minerals and raw materials continues to increase as societies pursue energy transition, infrastructure development, and technological growth. At the same time, mining activities exert significant pressure on natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and land use. It is estimated that mining influences more than 50 million square kilometers globally, with approximately 8% overlapping protected areas, 7% Key Biodiversity Areas, and 16% wilderness regions (Sonter et al., 2020). These figures highlight the scale at which mining intersects with sensitive environments and underscore the importance of effective reclamation planning, environmental management, and transparent reporting throughout the mine life cycle. Mining activities frequently intersect with complex and sensitive environments, placing the sector at the center of growing regulatory, societal, and environmental expectations. Regulatory frameworks are
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