Equipment selection with heterogeneous fleets for multiple-period schedules

Abstract

In a simple surface mining scenario we consider a mine to have one mining location and dumpsite connected by a truck route. We determine a purchase and salvage policy for trucks and loaders, which minimises the cost of materials handling over a multiple period schedule. This problem becomes large scale when we consider large sets of equipment and long schedules. Pre-existing equipment can lead to heterogeneous fleets; non-uniformity in the operating cost function coupled with compatibility issues also adds to the complexity of the problem. We present an integer programme for this problem, where we introduce a specialised linear constraint set to ensure satisfaction of production requirements while accounting for equipment compatibility. Many aspects of the presented model, such as the consideration of multiple periods and pre-existing equipment, are novel for the mining industry and ensure that the model is both a new and advanced equipment selection tool.

Keywords:

• OR in natural resources
• integer programming
• surface mining
• equipment selection

This research was conducted at Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia. This work appears in the doctoral thesis of Christina Burt.

This research was conducted at Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia. This work appears in the doctoral thesis of Christina Burt.

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage Grant No: LP0454362 with industry partner Rio Tinto. The authors thank Dr Yao-ban Chan for providing helpful corrections for this paper, as well as the two anonymous reviewers who provided detailed insightful comments on the paper.