'These tools let companies assess risk before boots hit the ground, especially when it comes to sensitive ecosystems' says scientist
As demand for critical minerals intensifies, a decades-old U.S. satellite program is helping guide safer, more sustainable mine development — with important lessons for Canada’s heavy industries.
The Landsat satellite program, operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA, provides more than 50 years of continuous Earth observation data. The technology supports environmental planning and monitoring across sectors, including mining.
“Landsat really is the gold standard,” says Terry Sohl, branch chief of integrated science and applications at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. “We have 50 years of record, and that allows us to look at change over time — vegetation, hydrology, and surface water conditions — in a consistent, accurate way.”
From space to site selection
At the Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada — one of the largest deposits in the U.S. — Landsat imagery helps assess biodiversity, water availability, and landscape sensitivity. The data supports mine siting and reclamation strategies aligned with regulatory and environmental requirements.
Developers initially proposed building within prime sage-grouse habitat. Based on Landsat-based rangeland assessments, the site was relocated to reduce habitat disruption.
“You want a good idea of the topography, vegetation, and water use in a region,” Sohl says. “Landsat helps tease that out — particularly from a vegetation and surface water perspective.”
The technology’s moderate resolution (30x30 metres) allows planners to monitor broad environmental conditions without invasive ground surveys. While not a traditional safety tool, it’s increasingly essential for environmental health, biodiversity, and land use planning.
“It’s not going to tell you where to dig for ore,” Sohl explains, “but it helps you understand the setting — where wildlife lives, how water moves, what’s growing where — all of which matters when you’re making long-term decisions about resource development.”
Implications for Canadian mining
Though Landsat is a U.S. program, its tools and methodologies are mirrored by Canadian initiatives like RADARSAT and the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing. As mining expands in Canada’s remote northern regions, satellite-based environmental data is becoming essential to risk reduction.
“In Canada, you have huge mineral resources in remote areas,” Sohl says. “These tools let companies assess risk before boots hit the ground — especially when it comes to sensitive ecosystems and water systems.”
At Thacker Pass, for example, developers aim to reuse process water up to seven times to meet zero liquid discharge goals. Landsat data supports modelling of groundwater levels and contaminant exposure risks, which are key concerns for mine safety professionals in arid or agriculturally sensitive regions.
Widely adopted, broadly applicable
Sohl says industry uptake is significant across sectors.
“There’s no doubt about it — industry is using Landsat,” he says. “From federal and state government to academia and the private sector, it’s had an impact like no other satellite sensor.”
One Landsat-derived dataset alone — the U.S. National Land Cover Database — has appeared in over 10,000 peer-reviewed papers and 6,000 government policy documents.
As ESG expectations rise and regulations tighten, remote sensing offers health and safety professionals a proactive way to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks — before shovels hit the ground.
“To me, the future of Landsat is much like its past,” Sohl says. “It’s about continuity. That long-term view is critical to responsible land use — and to making decisions with the best available science.”
