# Tailings Dam Monitoring # Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) Monitoring – Wet and Dry Tailings Defensible 3D GNSS Monitoring for Tailings Governance and Risk Management Tailings storage facilities carry high-consequence risk. Stability depends on how embankments, foundations, and retained materials behave over time — through construction, operation, and closure. Kurloo delivers defensible monitoring through continuous 3D GNSS displacement data, helping geotechnical teams detect change early, manage escalation confidently, and align with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). The Kurloo GNSS system establishes an absolute geodetic reference frame for monitoring, independent of local ground deformation that can compromise relative systems. Jump to Content ## The Operational Reality of Tailings Monitoring Most tailings failures are progressive, not instantaneous. Millimetre-scale crest settlement, differential movement, or gradual acceleration often precede visible distress. Under GISTM, operators must demonstrate continuous performance monitoring — not just periodic survey or inspection. Monitoring must withstand scrutiny from Engineers of Record, ITRBs, regulators, and boards. This requires reliable, auditable 3D displacement data that supports lifecycle risk management. ## How Kurloo Is Applied on Tailings Facilities Kurloo adds an absolute 3D monitoring layer at critical locations: - **Crests and abutments —** tracking differential settlement, rotational failure, or lateral displacement - **Freeboard reference points —** verifying crest elevation relative to pond levels - **Adjacent activity zones —** monitoring movement during blasting or construction - **Rehabilitation areas —** measuring heave and consolidation during capping Because positions are tied to a consistent geodetic frame, Kurloo also acts as ground truth for relative measurement and monitoring systems that may be affected by local distortions, such as radar, InSAR, total stations, local levelling, and in-situ subsurface monitoring systems like optical sensors and inclinometers. ## Key Benefits of Kurloo for TFS Monitoring ### Monitor Key Failure Modes Continuously Continuous 3D geodetic displacement monitoring across embankments, abutments, and foundations to verify design assumptions and track potential failure modes such as slope instability, differential settlement, or foundation deformation. ### Enable Early Warning and Risk Escalation High-frequency displacement data establishes trend-based thresholds that support proactive Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs), allowing escalation to radar or targeted investigation before visible distress occurs. ### Provide Auditable, Review-Ready Evidence Traceable, defensible monitoring records support Engineers of Record, Independent Tailings Review Boards, and governance oversight through structured, consistent deformation reporting. ### Strengthen Long-Term Monitoring Culture Autonomous, low-maintenance monitoring improves data availability and reduces reliance on intermittent site access, reinforcing continuous surveillance and evidence-based decision making. ## Detecting Failure Before It Escalates Progressive failure modes often present as subtle crest subsidence, accelerating lateral vectors, differential settlement, or step-change movement following rainfall or loading events. Continuous 3D monitoring allows these patterns to be identified early, supporting intervention before deformation progresses to instability. ## Practical Considerations & Monitoring Context Kurloo complements in-situ instrumentation such as piezometers and seepage monitoring. Its role is to provide absolute, drift-free 3D displacement that strengthens interpretation across the monitoring ecosystem. Key considerations include: - Typical ~2 km network range for sub-5 mm performance - Clear sky visibility for optimal measurement - Appropriate network density in high-risk zones - Integration with radar, InSAR, levelling, and internal sensors - Unlike many in-situ monitoring systems, Kurloo can be simply moved or reconfigured temporarily during or after construction. ## Case Study: Proven on Operational Tailings Facilities Kurloo has been deployed on live Australian tailings embankments to provide baseline deformation monitoring while mining continued nearby. The system operated autonomously within blast exclusion zones, delivering continuous, maintenance-free insight trusted by site geotechnical teams. ## Discuss Your Tailings Monitoring Requirements Design a defensible 3D GNSS monitoring network aligned with your TSF risk profile and GISTM obligations. Talk to our team about your facility. [ Book a Consultation ](/contact/book-a-consultation/)