The Use of Commercially Available Software Packages to Form a Unique Environmental Tool

The globally increasing environmental awareness which has manifested itself in the past few years also encompasses problems associated with mine closures. A crucial requirement for the effective planning, management, monitoring and control of mine closures is an information system which allows the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of proposed closure strategies, not only in terms of their local influences, but also of their potential effects on areas farther a field. This paper describes some of the closure associated problems and the establishment of such an information system from existing facilities, all of which are readily available. No modifications to these facilities are necessary, which enables rapid and cost-effective implementation of the system.