Linkage of Truck-and-shovel Operations to Short-term Mine Plans Using Discrete Event Simulation

• Author / Creator

  Torkamani, Elmira

• The scope of this research is concerned with improving truck-and-shovel systems’ efficiency using simulation. The major shortcomings of the current simulation models reviewed in literature are: a) considering shovels as continuously working equipment, b) modeling the system based on a shovel’s production requirements, and c) considering only the total tonnage of material hauled with neither any measure of material quality nor a link to the mine production schedule.
  The objective of this study is to develop, implement, and verify a simulation model to analyze the behavior of a truck-and-shovel haulage system in open-pit mining in conjunction with short-term plans. The simulation model imitates the complex truck-and-shovel system, and considers the uncertainties associated with the operations of trucks and shovels. It guarantees that the operational plans will honor the optimum net present value obtained in the scheduling phase. The simulation model is verified by a case-study measuring key performance indicators of the truck-and-shovel haulage system.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Discrete event simulation
  • Short-term mine production schedule
  • Stochastic truck-and-shovel system

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R33K6X

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.