The SEC4TD project was launched to tackle a critical and persistent challenge in the mining industry: helping prevent tailings storage facilities (TSF) failures through effective risk management. While this issue was already pressing three years ago, when the project started, it remains an urgent global concern today.
In 2025 alone, seven major TSF incidents were reported across Asia, Africa, and South America. Frequently triggered by climate change consequences such as extreme rainfall events, these failures highlight the continued vulnerability of tailings dams. The consequences are often devastating, ranging from the release of toxic contaminants into the environment to the loss of human lives, destruction of homes, and displacement of entire communities.
TSFs are complex engineering structures designed to store mining waste, typically a mixture of finely ground rock, water, and residual chemicals. Over recent decades, numerous failures have demonstrated that ageing infrastructure, uneven regulatory enforcement, and placement in high-risk locations can combine to cause catastrophic environmental and social damage.
A major milestone in addressing these risks was the introduction of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) in August 2020. Developed through collaboration between industry, investors, and international organizations, GISTM sets an ambitious goal of zero harm to people and the environment.
One of the key drivers of this standard is the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), which represents many of the world’s leading mining and metals companies. Speaking at the 2025 Worldsensing Summit, ICMM President and CEO Mr. Rohitesh Dhawan emphasized that meaningful progress is achieved when industry leadership, investor pressure, and regulatory oversight work in alignment.
A global challenge demanding better monitoring
Analysis of past incidents reveals a clear pattern: the majority of TSF failures have been linked to insufficient monitoring. To help address this gap through advanced technology, in 2022 a European consortium comprising mining operators, universities, and specialized service providers came together under the EIT RawMaterials umbrella to launch the SEC4TD project. The objective was to develop practical, deployable technology capable of significantly improving TSF risk management.
The project’s main technological outcome is the Worldsensing GNSS Meter, a wireless sensor designed for precise, automated measurement of surface point movements. Battery-powered and engineered for harsh environments, the GNSS Meter delivers millimetric accuracy, enabling continuous remote monitoring and early detection of even minimal ground displacement.
In parallel, the consortium developed the SEC4TD software platform, which integrates predictive algorithms with an intuitive visualization dashboard, supporting data-driven decision-making for dam safety and risk mitigation.
From research project to commercial product in three years
SEC4TD stands as a clear example of a full innovation cycle successfully completed, from early-stage research and market analysis, supported by EIT RawMaterials, to a commercial product launched and sold just three years later.
Before entering the market, the GNSS Meter was validated through real-world deployments at two operational tailings storage facilities: an ArcelorMittal Gradina Lake tailings dam in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Żelazny Most Tailings Dam, the largest in Europe, with the support of KGHM CUPRUM.
In both cases, validation activities confirmed the system’s reliability, robustness, and suitability for operational environments.
“Thanks to the collaboration among partners and the support of dedicated funding, SEC4TD has been a true end-to-end innovation journey. From early market analysis through sensor design and development, to defining the business model, commercialization strategy, and product launch, every phase was addressed. Only months after launch, sales figures are already proving its market relevance and scalability.”
Izabela Zrazinska, Innovation Project Manager at Worldsensing and SEC4TD project coordinator
Beyond technical performance, the project also assessed sustainability impacts. A life cycle analysis, including a carbon footprint calculation for the GNSS Meter, demonstrated that adopting this solution can help reduce the environmental and social footprint of mining operations, contributing to safer conditions for surrounding ecosystems and communities.
Supporting knowledge transfer was a core element of the project. The consortium delivered 14 scientific publications, participated in 29 industry and research events, organized 12 workshops and training sessions for universities, mining professionals, and stakeholders, and published three complete training packages on the project website.
SEC4TD’s achievements were recognized by EIT RawMaterials, which featured the project as a success story: From the Swiss Alps to Global Impact: Worldsensing’s Revolutionary Monitoring Solution.
Beyond tailings: expanding market adoption
Since its commercial launch, the rapid market adoption of the GNSS Meter has confirmed the strong demand for cost-effective, autonomous monitoring solutions. This success has enabled Worldsensing to expand the use of its GNSS IoT technology beyond tailings dams into additional application areas where continuous displacement monitoring is essential. Key new applications include:
- Railway monitoring, enabled through antenna adaptations
- Mining applications beyond TSFs, such as monitoring mining-induced ground instability
- Civil infrastructure, including subsidence monitoring in port areas
Worldsensing has already completed deployments in each of these sectors, demonstrating the versatility and scalability of the technology.
Just three years after the project’s launch, SEC4TD has delivered a commercially viable solution for tailings storage facilities and broader mining and infrastructure monitoring applications. Its consistent performance, rapid recovery, and reliable data availability confirm its readiness for real-world deployment—proving that early-stage innovation, when properly supported, can reach the market quickly and deliver tangible impact.
Further explore the results of the project: learn the innovation behind the GNSS Meter, what makes the solution distinctive and how it redefines long-term 3D ground movement monitoring, and have a look at the final SEC4TD Demo Day held during the Worldsensing Summit 2025 in Barcelona.
SEC4TD (Securing tailings dam infrastructure with an innovative monitoring system) is a European project funded by the EIT Raw Materials, an initiative of the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), a body of the European Union.
