Modelling and constructing engineered soil for post-mining landforms to create optimal ecological outcomes: application of a computer based Landscape Evolution Model (SSSPAM)

W. D. D. P. Welivitiya; G. R. Hancock; I. P. Senanayake

doi:10.1071/SR24230

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 63(4)

Modelling and constructing engineered soil for post-mining landforms to create optimal ecological outcomes: application of a computer based Landscape Evolution Model (SSSPAM)

W. D. D. P. Welivitiya ^A , G. R. Hancock

^A ^* and I. P. Senanayake ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: Greg.Hancock@newcastle.edu.au

Handling Editor: Mark Tibbett

Soil Research 63, SR24230 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR24230

Submitted: 5 January 2025 Accepted: 7 May 2025 Published: 10 June 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Designing a landscape without considering the evolution of surface materials and pedogenesis assumes that any materials are in an equilibrium state.

Aims

This is not the case for new landscapes such as post-mining landforms. Computer-based Landscape Evolution Models including the State Space Soil Production and Assessment Model (SSSPAM) have the capability to predict both surface and subsurface landscape evolution.

Methods

Here, the effect of depth-dependent pedogenesis functions (DDWF) and particle breakage geometry on erosion rates and landform evolution are examined using SSSPAM for a site in the Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia.

Key results

Landforms generated by either the Exponential or Humped Exponential DDWFs showed unique erosion rates.

Conclusions

Analysis of weathering mechanism geometry demonstrated that the size distribution of daughter particles significantly influences erosion rates and landform evolution.

Implications

With knowledge of weathering and pedogenesis, an optimised landscape can be engineered that would reduce the cost of post-mining landform design and construction.

Keywords: armouring, landform evolution modelling, mine rehabilitation, mine restoration, pedogenesis function, soil erosion, soil production, SSSPAM, weathering.

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