An improved formulation of the underground mine scheduling optimisation problem when considering selective mining
Abstract
The use of mixed integer programming is a modelling approach well suited to formulate
the mine scheduling optimisation problem for both open pit and underground mining. The
resolution applied for discretising the problem, however, has a direct effect on both the
level of selectivity that can be applied to improve profitability, as well as the computational
feasibility. The proposed model allows for a balance in reducing the resolution used in
discretising the underground mine scheduling problem, while maintaining enough detail that
will allow the generation of mine production schedules that improve profitability through
selective mining. As a secondary contribution, an improved formulation set within a resource
production/consumption framework is presented, which can potentially simplify notation
used in formulating underground mine scheduling optimisation problems
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/18467http://dx.doi.org/10.5784/31-1-422
http://orion.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/422