07. Use of remote sensing technology for monitoring the ash and slag waste disposal area of coal-fired power plants in Quang Ninh province

Abstract

Most of the coal-fired power plants in Quang Ninh province are located along the coast with millions of tons of ash and slag waste. The ash and slag waste disposal area are always full, overcrowding, causing high risks for environmental damage and land cover change concerns. This study uses Landsat 8 OLI satellite data captured in 2015, 2018, 2019 when Mong Duong Thermal Power Plant started its operation. All classes of ash dump and land cover were detected with the classification technique using the Neural Net algorithm. The obtained of land cover classes were compared and analyzed to find out changes with the consideration of coal-fired power plant operation and other socio-economic activities in the study area. The results showed that since Mong Duong thermal power plant went into operation, the area of ​​ash and slag and coal yards increased significantly (27.5 %; 25 %, respectivley) compared to the period 2015 - 2018 and it therefore requires measures to reduce the problem.