Coal India Arm ECL Deploys AI Drones to Track Green Cover

• ECL uses AI drones for land reclamation and green cover assessment
• UAV surveys and GIS mapping track plantation and ecological restoration
• Project with CSIR-CIMFR aids accurate monitoring and mine closure planning

Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has integrated AI-powered drones in the mining area of Sonepur-Bazari in West Bengal to evaluate green cover and scientific land reclamation.

The project is based on a combination of high tech and nature monitoring through which mining would be conducted in an earth-friendly manner.

The evaluation starts with drone-generated orthomosaic mapping followed by GIS and GPS-aided spatial checkout, vegetation condition examination, and environmental studies to confirm the ground.

The high-resolution UAV surveys combined with advanced geospatial analytics give the company the power to impartially assess the success of their plantation and ecological restoration activities. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR).

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ECL's integrated approach provides a means for the data-driven evaluation of plantation survival rates, canopy development, species composition, spatial distribution, and overall reclamation success.

The company intends to use AI and UAV technologies to gain the benefits of environmental monitoring in accurateness, scalability, and consistency. This, in turn, will support informed decision-making in the areas of mine closure planning and long-term ecologically sustainable management.

Eastern Coalfields is a geographically large operation spanning West Bengal and Jharkhand and has coal production targets of 58 million tonnes by the year 2025-26. The use of AI-enabled drones is a clear indication of the company’s dedication to environmentally friendly mining practices, scientific reclamation, and ecological restoration, all while keeping up the productivity level.

Combining advanced technology with the responsibility of caring for the environment, ECL is striving for a scenario where resource extraction and responsible land management along with environmental protection coexist.