The formation of  coal seams in the Tertiary era became the economic basis for the local community in Longyearbyen. In 1906, the Arctic Coal Company was founded. More than 100 years of coal extraction have been constantly transforming the landscape. Though the old mines have been abandoned, most of the installations are preserved and visible on the mountainsides. 

The first step was to look into historical statistics and surveys that would give an overall picture of the relationship between the landscape and its users.