Maral Bayaraa, a DPhil student in Oxford’s Department of Engineering Science, has clinched the Prototypes for Humanity Award at COP28, a coveted recognition in science and engineering innovation announced during the Climate Change Conference. The award-winning project, “Digital Twins 4 Tailings Dams,” emerged victorious in the Data Science and AI-enabled solutions category, surpassing over 3,000 entrants.
The project, spearheaded by Maral Bayaraa, Professor Brian Sheil from the University of Cambridge (also a Visiting Fellow at Oxford), and Dr. Cristian Rossi from the UK Centre for Greening Finance & Investment, focuses on revolutionizing safety measures for tailings storage facilities (TSFs) in mining.
Globally, there are more than 30,000 TSFs containing potentially hazardous mining waste, and a quarter of these facilities are abandoned and unmonitored. Maral’s solution combines geotechnical engineering, satellite remote sensing, and machine learning to create a satellite-based early warning system. This system monitors critical infrastructure facilities, providing timely alerts for signs of catastrophic failure, thus preventing potential environmental disasters.
Maral Bayaraa, also a part-time Earth Observation Specialist at the Satellite Applications Catapult, expressed the significance of Earth Observation in addressing global challenges. She likened Earth Observing satellites to “macro-scopes” drifting around the Earth, contributing to a broader understanding of environmental issues.
The Prototypes for Humanity Awards celebrate the dedication of innovators in finding solutions for social and environmental challenges. Maral’s accomplishment aligns with the 2023 award theme of Data Science and AI-enabled solutions, reflecting key COP28 themes. The recognition includes a $100,000 prize to support further development of the winning projects.
Since 2017, the Prototypes for Humanity Awards have acknowledged outstanding participants from the showcase, emphasizing academic innovation in addressing global challenges. Maral Bayaraa’s project, addressing critical concerns in mining safety through advanced technology, stands as a testament to the power of engineering and innovation in contributing to a sustainable future.
