About the Project
MINERVA is an international research project funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) of the European Union.
The project addresses one of the most significant challenges faced by European coal regions undergoing the Just Transition: the long-term environmental risks associated with coal mine closure. These include methane emissions, groundwater contamination, land subsidence, flooding hazards, environmental degradation, and obstacles to sustainable land redevelopment.
MINERVA will develop and validate an innovative AI-enhanced GIS platform (MINERVA-EM), integrated into the MissionOS environment, capable of combining satellite observations, UAV surveys, ground-based monitoring systems, historical mining records and advanced predictive models into a single decision-support platform.
The project aims to provide public authorities, industry, researchers and local communities with advanced digital tools for environmental monitoring, risk assessment, rehabilitation planning and regulatory compliance.
Project Objectives
The project will:
- develop an AI-enhanced GIS platform for environmental monitoring;
- integrate multi-source environmental datasets from satellites, UAVs, in-situ sensors and historical mining records;
- develop AI algorithms for anomaly detection, trend analysis and early warning;
- create predictive models for methane emissions, groundwater behaviour and land stability;
- establish digital twin capabilities for post-mining regions;
- automate environmental compliance with CSRD and ISO standards;
- validate the developed technologies at pilot sites in Romania and Poland;
- support sustainable rehabilitation and redevelopment of former coal mining regions.
Consortium
Coordinator
- Universitatea din Petrosani (Romania)
Project Partners
- Technical University of Crete (Greece)
- Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)
- University of Bologna (Italy)
- Maxwell Geosystems Europe S.r.l. (Italy)
- Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole si Medicina Veterinara Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
- AGH University of Krakow (Poland)
Associated Partner
- Complexul Energetic Valea Jiului S.A. (Romania)
The consortium combines expertise in environmental engineering, mining engineering, artificial intelligence, GIS technologies, geotechnics, environmental monitoring, remote sensing and digital transformation.
Work Packages
WP1 – Project Coordination and Quality Assurance
Overall project management, governance, quality assurance, risk management and reporting.
WP2 – Multi-Sensor Data Collection and Integration
Collection and harmonisation of environmental data from satellites, UAVs, sensors and historical mining records.
WP3 – Data Analytics and Smart GIS Services
Development of AI-based analytics, dashboards, early-warning systems and GIS services.
WP4 – Predictive Modelling and Decision Support
Development of predictive models and digital twin technologies supporting environmental rehabilitation.
WP5 – Compliance Automation and Standards
Automation of environmental reporting aligned with CSRD and ISO standards.
WP6 – System Deployment, Field Validation and Environmental Risk Assessment
Validation of the MINERVA platform at pilot sites located in Romania and Poland.
WP7 – Dissemination, Exploitation and Skills
Communication, stakeholder engagement, training activities and long-term exploitation of project results.
Project Facts
Item | Information |
Project Acronym | MINERVA |
Project Title | AI-Enhanced GIS Platform for Environmental Monitoring in Coal Mine Just Transition |
Project Number | 101295800 |
Programme | Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) |
Topic | RFCS-2025-01-RPJ |
Type of Action | RFCS Project Grant |
Coordinator | University of Petrosani |
Funding Authority | European Research Executive Agency (REA) |
Project Duration | 36 months |
Start Date | 1 July 2026 |
End Date | 30 June 2029 |
MINERVA will deliver:
- An AI-enhanced GIS platform for environmental monitoring;
- A digital twin environment for post-mining regions;
- Advanced environmental risk assessment methodologies;
- Predictive models for methane emissions, groundwater and land stability;
- Automated compliance reporting tools;
- Validated monitoring protocols;
- Open scientific publications and technical reports;
- Recommendations supporting the Just Transition of European coal regions.
MINERVA is funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) under Grant Agreement No. 101295800.
The project is managed by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) on behalf of the European Commission.