Mekong at Risk: Protecting Communities from Mining Pollution

Written By Frontier Tech Hub

THE QUESTION

Can satellite-based flood mapping combined with hydrometeorological data accurately identify communities in the Mekong Basin exposed to mining contamination and guide targeted interventions?

LOCATION: Mekong Region
SECTOR: Health
TECH: AI, Satellite Data
TIMELINE: January 2026 - Present
PARTNERS: TBD

 
 

Hundreds of mines release heavy metals into rivers during floods, threatening the millions who depend on the waterways, yet the scale and location of contaminated communities remain unknown. Using satellite imagery to track flooding patterns, this project will identify which communities face the greatest toxic exposure to guide health interventions and avoid contaminated agricultural areas.

 

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Frontier Tech Hub

The Frontier Tech Hub works with UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) staff and global partners to understand the potential for innovative tech in the development context, and then test and scale their ideas.

https://www.frontiertechhub.org/
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