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Strategic Environmental Assessment of Sungun Copper Mine Development Using Geographic Information Systems and the Analytic Hierarchy Process
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Yahya Jabari1   , Mohammad Ebrahim Ramazani *2 , Mohammad Mosaferi3 , Omid Rafi1 , Mohammad Ghanbari4 |
1- Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch
2- Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch & Sustainable Development Management Research Center of Urmia Lake Basin and Aras River, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
3- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences & Khazar University
4- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences |
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Abstract: (4 Views) |
Abstract
Objective: This study assessed the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) implications of Sungun Copper Mine development in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, and delineated areas with different levels of relative environmental suitability for strategic screening of future mining development.
Materials and Methods: An integrated SEA–GIS–AHP framework was applied to a 6,463.89-ha planning area encompassing the Sungun Copper Mine and surrounding areas in Varzegan County. Spatial data were processed in ArcGIS Pro using WGS 1984 UTM Zone 38N (EPSG:32638) and a 30 × 30 m final analysis cell. Seven criteria were evaluated: distance from water resources, watercourses, residential settlements, roads, and protected areas; slope; and land use/vegetation cover. Criteria were standardized on a five-point suitability scale according to environmental sensitivity and direction of effect. Euclidean Distance was used for distance criteria, slope was derived from the digital elevation model, and land-use/vegetation data were converted from polygon to raster. Spatial datasets were obtained primarily from the East Azerbaijan Provincial Department of Environment; because the production year of some supplied Shapefiles was not documented, no unsupported date was assigned. Criterion weights were determined by AHP pairwise comparisons based on expert judgment from 16 multidisciplinary experts with 10–23 years of experience. The consistency ratio was 0.08. Weighted Overlay produced a continuous Environmental Suitability Index and five relative suitability classes.
Results: Distance from water resources received the highest relative weight (0.243), followed by land use/vegetation cover (0.189) and watercourses (0.147). The weights of settlements, roads, slope, and protected areas were 0.124, 0.106, 0.098, and 0.093, respectively. Very unsuitable, unsuitable, moderate, suitable, and very suitable areas accounted for 21.60%, 28.73%, 28.00%, 10.06%, and 11.61% of the study area, respectively. Overall, 50.33% was unsuitable or very unsuitable, while 21.67% was suitable or very suitable. The results demonstrate substantial spatial heterogeneity and indicate that relative suitability reflects the combined spatial pattern and weighting of multiple environmental and human-related constraints.
Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of water resources and watercourses, sensitive land uses and vegetation, settlements, and protected areas in strategic planning for future mine development. The map is a relative spatial screening and decision-support product, not an environmental permit or definitive carrying-capacity assessment. Suitable areas require subsequent hydrogeological, geotechnical, environmental, risk, HSE, and legal assessments. The framework provides a transparent basis for early strategic screening and can be adapted to other copper mines in East Azerbaijan by recalibrating criteria, weights, spatial scale, and baseline data. |
Article number: 5 |
| Keywords: Strategic Environmental Assessment, Sungun Copper Mine, Geographic Information System, Analytic Hierarchy Process, Environmental Suitability, Spatial Planning |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
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