Kamogelo Baloyi, an AOK intern, graduated with a Master of Science (MSc) in Geophysics from University of the Witwatersrand in December 2025. Her research focused on using open-source Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), a freely available satellite technology that tracks changes in the Earth’s surface over time. By comparing images taken at different points in time, this method can detect ground movement or deformation. Kamogelo applied this approach to monitor tailings storage facilities, which are sites where mining waste is stored, helping to identify potential structural risks early.

The study investigated whether freely available satellite radar data could detect ground deformation patterns associated with tailings dam instability. The research was conducted as a case study of the Jagersfontein tailings dam failure, analysing satellite data spanning approximately one year prior to the collapse. The results demonstrate the potential of open-source InSAR as a cost-effective, remote monitoring tool that can complement on-site inspections and conventional instrumentation, particularly for identifying precursory deformation trends.

“This work highlights the growing role of satellite-based geophysical methods in improving tailings dam risk management, transparency, and early-warning capabilities within the mining industry,” she says.