A Socio-Ecological Approach to GIS Least-Cost Modelling for Regional Mining Infrastructure Planning: A Case Study from South-East Sulawesi, Indonesia

Alex M. Lechner, Bernadetta Devi, Ashlee Schleger, Greg Brown, Phill McKenna, Saleem H. Ali, Shanty Rachmat, Muhammad Syukril and Paul Rogers
Additional contact information
Alex M. Lechner: School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia
Bernadetta Devi: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
Ashlee Schleger: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
Greg Brown: School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
Phill McKenna: Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
Saleem H. Ali: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
Shanty Rachmat: Research Group of City and Regional Infrastructure System, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Muhammad Syukril: Bappeda Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara, Kota Kendari 93873, Indonesia
Paul Rogers: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia

Resources, 2017, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Regional planning approaches to mining infrastructure aim to reduce the conflict associated with mining operations and existing land uses, such as urban areas and biodiversity conservation, as well as the cumulative impacts that occur offsite. In this paper, we describe a method for conducting Geographical Information System (GIS) least-cost path and least-cost corridor analysis for linear mining infrastructure, such as roads. Least-cost path analysis identifies the optimal pathways between two locations as a function of the cost of traveling through different land use/cover types. In a case study from South-East Sulawesi, Indonesia, we identify potential linear networks for road infrastructure connecting mines, smelters, and ports. The method used interview data from government officials to characterise their orientation (perceived importance and positive/negative attitude) toward the social and environmental factors associated with mining infrastructure. A cost-surface was constructed by integrating spatial layers representing the social and environmental factors to identify areas that should be avoided and areas that were compatible with linear infrastructure using the least-cost path analysis. We compared infrastructure scenario outputs from local and national government officials by the degree of spatial overlap and found broad spatial agreement for infrastructure corridors. We conclude by discussing this approach in relation to the wider social-ecological and mine planning literature and how quantitative approaches can reduce the conflict associated with infrastructure planning.

Keywords: mining; GIS; least-cost paths; road infrastructure; regional planning; spatial planning; land use planning; socio-ecological analysis; Indonesia; South East Sulawesi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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