The document summarizes a case study that applied remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to monitor the environment at a coal mine site on the Loess Plateau in China. The study integrated RS data, topography maps, and other data to analyze land use, vegetation coverage, watersheds, slopes, soil erosion, desertification, and their relationship to coal mining and precipitation. Maps were produced showing levels of soil erosion and desertification around the Shenfu coal mine. The study demonstrated that RS and GIS provide an effective way to rapidly detect environmental problems, assess impacts, and aid in ecological restoration efforts in mining areas on the Loess Plateau.