A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming

Stochastic integer programming (SIP) has recently been studied to manage the risk caused by geological uncertainty when solving mine planning and production scheduling problems of open pit mines. However, similar to other mathematical programming techniques that deploy integer variables, the main ob...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mai, N., Topal, Erkan, Erten, Oktay, Sommerville, B.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Pergamon Press 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/71984
_version_ 1848762627831889920
author Mai, N.
Topal, Erkan
Erten, Oktay
Sommerville, B.
author_facet Mai, N.
Topal, Erkan
Erten, Oktay
Sommerville, B.
author_sort Mai, N.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Stochastic integer programming (SIP) has recently been studied to manage the risk caused by geological uncertainty when solving mine planning and production scheduling problems of open pit mines. However, similar to other mathematical programming techniques that deploy integer variables, the main obstacle of applying SIP on real-life datasets stems from the enormous number of integer variables required by its mathematical formulation, which is a function of number of mining blocks being processed and lifespan of the mining project. In this paper, a new framework is proposed for stochastic mine planning process which makes the application of SIP on large-scale datasets tractable. Firstly, mining blocks of simulated orebody models are clustered using TopCone algorithm to significantly reduce the scale of the data. A new SIP model is then developed to work on aggregated blocks so not only the net present value (NPV) is maximised and the risk of not meeting production targets is minimised, but also solution can be obtained in a practical timeframe. The scheduling result of the new SIP model is also compared to an integer programming (IP) model to highlight the ability to manage risk and generating higher NPV on a case study of a large-scale multi-element iron ore deposit in Pilbara region, Western Australia.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T10:50:35Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-71984
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T10:50:35Z
publishDate 2018
publisher Pergamon Press
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-719842019-02-08T05:03:02Z A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming Mai, N. Topal, Erkan Erten, Oktay Sommerville, B. Stochastic integer programming (SIP) has recently been studied to manage the risk caused by geological uncertainty when solving mine planning and production scheduling problems of open pit mines. However, similar to other mathematical programming techniques that deploy integer variables, the main obstacle of applying SIP on real-life datasets stems from the enormous number of integer variables required by its mathematical formulation, which is a function of number of mining blocks being processed and lifespan of the mining project. In this paper, a new framework is proposed for stochastic mine planning process which makes the application of SIP on large-scale datasets tractable. Firstly, mining blocks of simulated orebody models are clustered using TopCone algorithm to significantly reduce the scale of the data. A new SIP model is then developed to work on aggregated blocks so not only the net present value (NPV) is maximised and the risk of not meeting production targets is minimised, but also solution can be obtained in a practical timeframe. The scheduling result of the new SIP model is also compared to an integer programming (IP) model to highlight the ability to manage risk and generating higher NPV on a case study of a large-scale multi-element iron ore deposit in Pilbara region, Western Australia. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/71984 10.1016/j.resourpol.2018.11.004 Pergamon Press restricted
spellingShingle Mai, N.
Topal, Erkan
Erten, Oktay
Sommerville, B.
A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
title A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
title_full A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
title_fullStr A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
title_full_unstemmed A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
title_short A new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
title_sort new risk-based optimisation method for the iron ore production scheduling using stochastic integer programming
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/71984