End: 31/12/2029
Funding: European
Status: On going
Geomatics (GM)
Acronym: EULACRM
Call ID: Neighborhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe)
Code: 11286111
This project focuses on large-scale studies of South American salares affected by ongoing lithium mining activities, using advanced Earth Observation (EO) techniques and Copernicus-based products. The work is centred on two key sites in Chile and Argentina that will be decided during the project.
Lithium extraction from brines and groundwater is causing pressure on aquifers, threatening water availability for local communities. This depletion can also lead to land subsidence, altering terrain and potentially impacting infrastructure and population safety. These effects extend beyond local areas, influencing entire river basins.
In addition, mining operations often transform the landscape by removing large volumes of soil and rock, leading to habitat destruction and ecosystem degradation.
To address these challenges, the project will develop EO-based tools to monitor and assess the environmental impacts of mining activities, supporting better decision-making in these fragile environments. As part of this project, training activities will be delivered to Geological Surveys across Ibero-America, focusing on the use of Earth Observation technologies and Copernicus services.
Coordinator