Optical Technologies: A Game-changer for In-situ Soil and Tailings Characterization

For centuries, humans have used optical technology to better understand the properties of materials. From a simple magnifying glass to advanced microscopes, optical advancements have facilitated breakthroughs in the way engineers and scientists study geomaterials using reflected light. Since the mid-20th century, digital light-sensing technologies have paved the way for the future of material characterization. Among these technologies, hyperspectral sensing and high-resolution image sensing stand out for their ability to rapidly collect data related to material properties, and promise for the high-speed characterization of tailings and soils.