Integrated Mining and Waste Management Optimization Framework for Sustainable Resource Development

可持续资源开发的综合采矿和废物管理优化框架

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05707
• 负责人: BenAwuah, Eugene
• 金额: $ 1.68万
• 依托单位: Laurentian University of Sudbury
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=709931
• 关键词: Integrated; Mining; Waste; Management; Optimization

SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL The Canadian mining and mineral processing industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in North America, employing about 380,000 people. There have been huge investments in this sector and over $160 billion dollars' worth of new mining investments are expected to take off over the next decade. With intense global competition in mining investments, mining projects are continuously being reviewed against environmental and social sustainability aside profitability. It is therefore imperative that continuous research to push the limits of profitable sustainable technologies by innovation remains at the forefront of research in this sector. The proposed research focuses on the applications of operations research methods in the sustainable development of natural resources. Mining and waste management are generally viewed as separate functions during the planning and design of mining complexes. Optimizations of these functions are generally carried out with little regard to interdependencies that exist among them during and after mine life. Separate optimization of each function does not guarantee global optimality which can support responsible and sustainable resource development. In mining projects, deviations from optimal mine plans may result in significant financial losses, future financial liabilities, delayed reclamation and resource sterilization. The primary objective of the proposed research is to develop a theoretical framework for integrating mine planning and waste management optimization for sustainable resource development. The outcome of the research is expected to lead towards seamless integration of waste management and mine planning systems resulting in sustainable optimal mine plans and designs. This will ensure that: there is continuous reclamation during mining; final landscape designs are environmentally acceptable; resource sterilization is avoided; and mineralized mine waste is properly managed as a future resource. The contribution of this research will be a framework and methodology that promotes sustainable mining through the stochastic optimization of material flow through the mining system. This knowledge will be transferred to mining practitioners and end-users through prototype software applications. The research will train highly qualified mining professionals (students) to ensure improved resource governance, total mine reconciliation and reduced environmental footprints during and after mine life through robust decision making. This will spur growth and competitiveness in the Canadian mining industry.

提案摘要 加拿大采矿和矿物加工业是北美增长最快的行业之一，雇用了约 38 万名员工。该行业已获得巨额投资，预计未来十年将出现价值超过 1600 亿美元的新矿业投资。随着全球采矿投资竞争的激烈，除了盈利能力之外，采矿项目不断受到环境和社会可持续性的审查。因此，通过创新突破可持续技术盈利极限的持续研究仍然是该领域研究的前沿。本研究重点关注运筹学方法在自然资源可持续发展中的应用。 在采矿综合体的规划和设计过程中，采矿和废物管理通常被视为独立的功能。这些功能的优化通常很少考虑矿山寿命期间和之后它们之间存在的相互依赖性。 每个功能的单独优化并不能保证全局最优，从而支持负责任和可持续的资源开发。在采矿项目中，偏离最佳采矿计划可能会导致重大财务损失、未来的财务负债、延迟复垦和资源灭菌。 拟议研究的主要目标是开发一个理论框架，将矿山规划和废物管理优化相结合，以实现可持续资源开发。研究结果预计将导致废物管理和矿山规划系统的无缝集成，从而实现可持续的最佳矿山规划和设计。这将确保： 采矿过程中不断进行复垦； 最终的景观设计是环境可接受的； 避免资源灭菌；和 矿化矿山废物作为未来资源得到妥善管理。 这项研究的贡献将是通过采矿系统中物质流的随机优化来促进可持续采矿的框架和方法。这些知识将通过原型软件应用程序传递给采矿从业者和最终用户。该研究将培训高素质的采矿专业人员（学生），以确保通过稳健的决策改善资源治理、全面协调矿山并减少矿山寿命期间和之后的环境足迹。这将刺激加拿大采矿业的增长和竞争力。