Calculating correlation of the impact of social media interactions on the social risk for mineral development

Sean Dessureault, W. Pratt Rogers

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mineral projects, from feasibility to full permitting and end-of-construction are facing increasing risk from vehement anti-industry sentiment. Even when engineering design and environmental and social impact studies (EIS) commissioned and completed by professionals according to best practice, highly vocal and active anti-development activists can create significant delays or outright stoppage by courts. These activist, who are integrated online, need not be direct stakeholders in the project, often living outside of the economic and environmental influence of the operation, however, their online activity has impact. Consumer product companies and political activists have developed a new industry based on data mining social media interactions to provide early risk warnings, or to protect a brand or image against the aggressive online attacks, this is often generally labelled "reputation management". Mining firms are under similar risk, where the reputation and pseudo-brand is directly linked to the potential success or failure of the permitting process. Mining companies would need to gain a greater understanding of the online landscape, determine its influence, impact, and ultimately how to mitigate the negative and influence the positive. Online activity is quantifiable through the very same online reputation defence systems developed by banding companies and political organizations. These systems can be used to identify risks. For mining companies, the success of the permitting process may be assessed by stock price fluctuations since investors know that increases in the time and expense of the permitting process and impact the value of the stock. The research calculates the variables related to causality and correlation regarding online interactions in metal mining projects in Peru, Chile, Argentina, the United States, and Canada.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationApplication of Computers and Operations Research in the Mineral Industry - Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium, APCOM 2015
EditorsSukumar Bandopadhyay, Snehamoy Chatterjee, Tathagata Ghosh, Kumar Vaibhav Raj
PublisherSociety for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME)
Pages668-674
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9780873354172
StatePublished - 2015
Event37th International Symposium on Application of Computers and Operations Research in the Mineral Industry, APCOM 2015 - Fairbanks, United States
Duration: May 23 2015May 27 2015

Publication series

NameApplication of Computers and Operations Research in the Mineral Industry - Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium, APCOM 2015

Other

Other37th International Symposium on Application of Computers and Operations Research in the Mineral Industry, APCOM 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityFairbanks
Period5/23/155/27/15

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Computer Science Applications

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