Design Challenge and Design Ideas

Mining provides essential materials, like lithium and iron, critical to advancing civilisation and driving the net-zero transition.
However, mining operations are increasingly scrutinised for their environmental and social impacts, including habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and community displacement.

To address this, and to incentivise responsible mining behaviours, we developed a real-time solution that tracks mining project effects and helps companies manage their environmental footprint more sustainably.
By integrating advanced technologies—such as satellite imagery, bioacoustic monitoring, and eDNA analysis—with existing mining data, our platform offers actionable insights to mitigate damage, protect biodiversity, and enhance transparency. This proactive approach allows mining companies to operate transparently, ensuring the continued supply of critical minerals essential for a sustainable future.

How the brief was fulfilled

Our project was structured in two key phases:

First, we focused on gaining a deep understanding of the individuals responsible for managing crises at mining companies. We explored how they prevent and mitigate environmental and social harm, the tools they use, and the significant challenges they face in protecting both people and the planet. This involved understanding their decision-making processes and the gaps that hinder effective response.

Second, we investigated how data and technology could improve their ability to address these issues proactively, before they escalate into major disasters.
To achieve this, we brought together a diverse team of designers, behavioural scientists, data experts, mining industry professionals, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) leaders. Together, we created Canopy, a platform designed to track the social and environmental impacts of mining operations while promoting nature-positive decisions across the organisation.

Our behavioural scientists and mining experts identified a critical need for users to efficiently access and interpret complex data. Canopy meets this need by consolidating previously siloed data into one platform, simplifying workflows for site managers, ESG teams, and community relations leaders. By tailoring insights to specific roles, the platform provides actionable data for diverse stakeholders, such as biodiversity monitoring for environmental teams or settlement growth detection for community engagement teams.

On the technology side, Canopy is built on a data lake architecture that ingests vast amounts of geospatial, environmental, and operational data. It integrates satellite imagery, bioacoustic sensors, and eDNA analysis to provide a comprehensive, real-time view of mining operations. Paired with machine learning models, the platform predicts risks and detects early warning signs, such as deforestation or water contamination.

The dynamic maps and dashboards offer near real-time updates, empowering teams to respond quickly to emerging threats, preventing costly disruptions and enhancing operational efficiency.

Looking ahead, Canopy’s scalable design can be extended to other industries, such as telecommunications, enabling companies to develop infrastructure with minimal environmental impact while improving transparency and regulatory compliance.