Abstract
This study investigates recent topographical changes in surface mining areas within the Banovići coal basin (Northeastern Bosnia). Over the past eight decades of surface exploitation, 96.64 million tons (Mt) of brown coal have been extracted, while 546.48 million cubic meters (Mm³) of mine tailings have been excavated and deposited in various landfill sites. Surface mining activities have led to the formation of anthropogenic landforms, significantly altering the landscape topography. These changes have been identified and geovisualized through field research, GIS analysis of topographic maps, orthophoto and satellite imagery, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and a site plans. Using methods and algorithms integrated within QGIS, raster and vector values of analyzed change parameters (hypsometry, slope and aspect, hydrographic network, etc.) have been obtained. The results of GIS-based DEM analysis indicate that 2041.86 hectares of natural surface have been degraded, with the most significant changes occurring in areas dominated by large anthropogenic land forms. Additionally, a trend of increasing elevation differences and terrain slope in the affected areas have been observed. While the mean elevation of both terrain types remained relatively consistent, the height difference in anthropogenic terrain increased by 50 meters compared to natural terrain.
Areas with hypsometric range of up to 300 m and 400-500 m have expanded, while those within the 300-400 m and over 500 m ranges have decreased. The slope categories of 1-5° and over 20° have notably increased, while the 1° and 5-20° categories have declined. Furthermore, the area with sunny and wester-facing slopes has expanded, while shaded and eastern-facing slopes have decreased. The hydrographic network, with a density of 2.99 km/km2, has been entirely disrupted, leading to a complete breakdown of the natural potamological functions within the study area (61.05 km). Finally, the obtained geospatial data were geovisualized using QGIS, resulting in thematic maps that illustrate anthropogenic topographical transformations. Consequently, the analyzed indicators of topographical changes can serve as a crucial factor in future planning for the revitalization and land reclamation of degraded areas within the Banovići coal basin.
Keywords: Topographical changes, landforms (relief), GIS, geovisualizations, Banovići coal basin