Potential of remote sensing in mine closure and post-closure monitoring by expert insights

The transformation of Europe's extractive industries amid the green transition underscores a growing need for sustainable mine closure practices. This paper explores the practical applicability of remote sensing technologies for post-mining environmental monitoring and land reuse, using the Pyhäsalmi Mine in Finland as a case study. Once one of Europe's deepest and most advanced base metal mines, Pyhäsalmi is now transforming from a mining site into a hub for innovative post-mining initiatives, including energy storage, circular economy and FUTUREMINE test-mine development. Drawing on the European Union-funded GoldenEye project, which integrated satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne sensors and artificial intelligence-driven analytics, this study assesses the usability of remote sensing tools through a Delphi-based focus group with Finnish experts from regulatory, academic and industrial sectors. Results highlight both the potential and the systemic barriers to adoption, ranging from regulatory inertia and cost constraints to skills gaps and technological readiness. While tools like InSAR, light detection and ranging and UAV imaging show high value for monitoring, full integration into environmental governance remains limited. The findings emphasize the need for more precise regulation, investment in human capacity and collaborative frameworks to enable scalable, digital monitoring strategies. The Pyhäsalmi experience offers a replicable model for aligning innovation with sustainability in Europe's post-extractive regions.