Ranchi: Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) has undertaken a significant initiative to strengthen environmental stewardship by deploying AI-driven drone monitoring in the Sonepur Bazari Area as part of a comprehensive scientific reclamation and green cover assessment programme. The initiative utilises high-resolution UAV-based surveys and advanced geospatial analytics to objectively evaluate plantation performance and ecological restoration across reclaimed mining land, enabling a transparent and data-driven approach to environmental monitoring.
The study is being carried out by the CSIR–Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) using state-of-the-art methodologies, including drone-based orthomosaic mapping, GIS and GPS-enabled spatial validation, vegetation health assessment through scientific indices and quadrat-based ecological surveys for ground-truthing. This integrated application of AI and UAV technologies enhances accuracy and consistency in assessing plantation survival, canopy development and overall reclamation success, reinforcing ECL’s commitment to ESG compliance, sustainable mining practices and responsible environmental governance.
