The question of how sustainable digitalisation can be achieved in post-mining was the focus of the symposium \u201cNachbergbauzeit NRW 2025 \u2013 Digitalisation meets tradition\u201d held on 20th March 2025 at the Student Centre of the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) in Bochum\/Germany (Figure\u00a01). Around 250 participants were able to experience in a variety of presentations and direct exchanges how much and what is already technically possible and successfully in use. The post-mining era in North Rhine-Westphalia thus built a thematic bridge from the traditional and historically immensely influential mining industry to the future and to state-of-the-art digital technologies.<\/p>\n
Organised by the Research Center of Post-Mining (FZN) and the Department of Mining and Energy of the Arnsberg District Government, the event offered a nationally and internationally unique platform to show how digitalisation and traditional methods work together to sustainably master the challenges of post-mining.<\/p>\n
The open and technically diverse structure of the post-mining era in North Rhine-Westphalia was addressed right at the start of the conference. In his welcome address, Prof. Christian Melchers, head of the FZN, aptly stated in line with the conference motto: \u201cWe have a treasure in the Ruhr region. And it is no longer hard coal. It is data.\u201d Prof. \u00adMelchers not only emphasised the high value of geodata and the opportunities its digitalisation offers us, but also ventured a positive regional outlook for the coming decades: \u201cThe Ruhr region has the opportunity to become the greenest industrial region in the world!\u201d<\/p>\n
Post-mining is more than a regional issue \u2013 it is a project for the future with global relevance. Prof. Susanne Lengyel, President of the THGA, made this unmistakably clear. Her focus is on the young professionals who will help shape this change. \u201cTogether with our students and future graduates, we want to tackle the tasks that post-mining in particular brings with it,\u201d emphasised Lengyel. For her, one thing is certain: cutting-edge research alone is not enough. We need people who are willing to take responsibility and break new ground. \u201cThe demand for raw materials is growing worldwide. We need to deal with this in a sustainable and responsible manner. These are all important issues that will occupy us today \u2013 and in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heinrich B\u00f6ckel\u00fchr, District President of the Arnsberg District Government, followed with a brief insight into the historical dimension of mining, the development of post-mining in North Rhine-Westphalia and the resulting challenges. He emphasised the importance of the Post-Mining Period in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is now taking place for the eighth time, describing it as a \u201cgenuine traditional event\u201d. Heinrich B\u00f6ckel\u00fchr also pointed out the enormous opportunities offered by digital technologies, e.\u2009g. in hazard prevention. According to the District President, the further digitalisation of the mining authority is indispensable and remains a key priority.<\/p>\n
B\u00e4rbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, member of the Executive Board of the RAG-Stiftung, spoke in her speech about sustainable financing and coping with perpetual obligations after the end of German coal mining. She particularly highlighted the FZN\u2019s path to becoming a transformation centre for georesources and ecology (TG\u00d6). This development is a decisive step towards linking science, transfer and innovation more closely and providing forward-looking impetus for the sustainable use of georesources. Bergerhoff-Wodopia: \u201cWe are committed to supporting and accompanying the TG\u00d6 on its journey, because we are certain that knowledge creates the basis for shaping a sustainable and liveable future!\u201d<\/p>\n
North Rhine-Westphalia, once an important mining region, has long since developed into a post-mining region. Today, the region uses its extensive experience and innovative knowledge to record and manage the traces of intensive raw material extraction. The symposium impressively demonstrated how historical legacy data and modern geodata can be combined to promote the sustainable management of post-mining landscapes.<\/p>\n
The use of drones in post-mining, 3D modelling, improvements in digital maps for risk management, automation in geomonitoring, digitised water management, the use of AI and open data systems: the speakers were able to shed light on post-mining from a variety of topics and perspectives, visualise science in their presentations and explore potential.<\/p>\n
The combination of lectures, discussions and networking opportunities, as well as the multi-perspective approach to the topic, once again proved to be a great asset to the eighth Post-Mining Period, as Prof. Melchers noted: \u201cThe Nachbergbauzeit NRW 2025 was a complete success. The concept has once again proven its worth. Comprehensive content, interesting presentations and great encounters already have me looking forward to the next Nachbergbauzeit NRW 2027.\u201d (THGA\/Si.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The question of how sustainable digitalisation can be achieved in post-mining was the focus of the symposium \u201cNachbergbauzeit NRW 2025 \u2013 Digitalisation meets tradition\u201d held on 20th March 2025 at …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":20077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1033],"tags":[791,792,318,345,319],"class_list":["post-20088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-in-brief-03_2025","tag-fzn","tag-research-center-of-post-mining","tag-technische-hochschule-georg-agricola","tag-th-georg-agricola","tag-thga"],"yoast_head":"\n