Advances in acid mine drainage management through artificial intelligence

Acid mine drainage (AMD) generation involves complex interactions of environmental and geological factors, posing formidable management challenges. Extensive research over five decades has aimed to understand AMD processes and mitigate their severe impacts. However, the aquatic environment remains highly vulnerable to AMD risks, with management technologies facing constraints, necessitating ongoing research efforts, while managing AMD sustainably requires continuous monitoring of water quality and site conditions. This study examines AMD, as a pressing environmental concern in mining operations, comprehensively evaluating its sustainable management aspects, including regulation frameworks, categorization by the risk classes, and environmental impact factors. Various challenges and limitations within the field are identified in the review, mostly highlighting the need for alignment with contemporary trends of technology. In response, although some challenges persist, emerging data-based technological approaches such as Artificial Intelligence show promise for early AMD risk identification and maintenance, to preserve the aquatic ecosystems from AMD risks.