The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate options for improving dam monitoring and reporting, including potential use of the smart monitoring IoT and a satellite technology to provide real-time data on the structural integrity of tailings dams to mining companies and regulators. 

Inmarsat said connected sensors gathered data, such as piezometric pressure, pond elevation, local weather conditions and inclinometer readings, which was then aggregated and transferred via its global L-band network to a cloud-based dashboard.

"The information presented in the dashboard provides the necessary transparency for mining companies, auditors and regulators to make faster and smarter decisions, improve safety standards and helps support regulatory compliance," the company said.

Inmarsat president Paul Gudonis said the safety of tailings dams was a long-standing issue in the mining industry.

"With our 40 years of heritage and expertise in providing critical safety services across different industries, we can bring this experience to help the Minas Gerais state government monitor the tailings dams in its region.

"Our IoT-based monitoring solution leverages advanced connectivity technologies to give mining companies total visibility over the safety and integrity of their dams and enables them to take action to avert safety issues," he said.