Integrated Mining and Waste Management Optimization Framework for Sustainable Resource Development

加拿大的采矿和矿物加工业是北美增长最快的行业之一，雇佣了大约38万人。在这一领域有巨大的投资，预计未来十年将有超过1600亿美元的新矿业投资启动。由于矿业投资的全球竞争激烈，除了盈利能力外，采矿项目还不断受到环境和社会可持续性的审查。因此，通过创新推动可盈利的可持续技术的极限的持续研究仍然是该领域研究的前沿。本研究的重点是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期间，采矿和废物管理一般被视为独立的职能。在进行这些功能的优化时，通常很少考虑到它们之间在地雷寿命期间和之后存在的相互依赖关系。每个功能的单独优化并不能保证全局最优，而全局最优可以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导致重大财务损失、未来财务负债、延迟复垦和资源绝育。****拟议研究的主要目标是制定一个理论框架，将矿山规划和废物管理优化结合起来，促进可持续资源开发。这项研究的结果预期将导致废物管理和矿山规划系统的无缝结合，从而产生可持续的最佳矿山计划和设计。这将确保：***在采矿期间有持续的填海；****最终景观设计是否符合环境要求；避免****资源灭菌；****矿化的矿山废弃物作为未来的资源得到妥善管理。***本研究的贡献将是一个框架和方法，通过通过采矿系统的物料流动的随机优化来促进可持续采矿。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矿业专业人员（学生），以确保通过强有力的决策，改善资源治理，实现矿山总体协调，并减少矿山生命周期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

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.***