UTEC researcher leads AI‑drone project to assess mining tailings in Zimapán, Hidalgo

A research team headed by postdoctoral fellow Gildardo Godínez Garrido of the Universidad Tecnológica de Tulancingo (UTEC) is developing a low‑cost, high‑precision system to map and evaluate the environmental impact of mining tailings in Zimapán, Hidalgo. The project combines unmanned aerial vehicles, photogrammetry, GNSS‑RTK positioning and artificial‑intelligence algorithms to produce three‑dimensional volumetric diagnostics of tailings deposits, identify zones of risk and support remediation strategies that limit the dispersion of heavy‑metal particles.

The initiative involves the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM), the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo (UAEH), the Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Ambientales and the private firm SIGSA, and is funded by the state science council CITNOVA. Its outcomes are intended to inform decision‑making by local authorities and contribute to the environmental agenda promoted by Hidalgo Governor Julio Menchaca Salazar and the state education secretary.