Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) EAKR SMARTTEST research project relies on Mittausguru's expertise

In November, GTK’s research field in Outokumpu is bustling with activity as Pekka Forsman and Teemu Karlsson are busy with water samples and measurement equipment. Amidst protective fences and cold concrete, cutting-edge Finnish research is being conducted.

The EAKR SMARTTEST research project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund, is underway here, studying the properties and management of mine waste and side streams from the extractive industry. This unique test environment offers test structures in different sizes and research possibilities for how side streams from mining operations can be utilized and the environmental safety of operations improved.

Testing different landfill and cover structures under field conditions provides valuable information to support the management and closure of mine waste and the planning of the use of side streams.

Test structures contain plenty of different sensors measuring at different depths.

Mittausguru’s online monitoring stations tell researchers what is happening inside the test structures. Ground sensors measure for example conductivity, temperature, oxygen and moisture on different depths. Flow measurements tell the water amounts infiltrating through the test materials and local weather station indicates weather conditions at the test site. Hundreds of parameters and thousands of measurement results leave nothing to chance.

Geological Survey of Finland’s (GTK) services also include assisting mining companies in designing, implementing and interpreting research tests in their own sites.

Interested to know more about GKT SMARTTEST? Contact: Päivi Kauppila, paivi.kauppila@gtk.fi, p. +358 40 7787 537.

It’s easy to smile, when measurements work. In the picture: Lasse Kaiponen (Mittausguru Oy), Teemu Karlsson (GTK and Pekka Forsman (GTK).