Integrated Mining and Waste Management Optimization Framework for Sustainable Resource Development

加拿大采矿和矿物加工业是北美增长最快的行业之一，雇用了大约38万人。在这个领域已经有了巨大的投资，预计未来十年将有价值超过1600亿美元的新矿业投资。随着全球矿业投资的激烈竞争，除了盈利能力外，矿业项目还在不断受到环境和社会可持续性的审查。因此，必须继续开展研究，通过创新推动有利可图的可持续技术的极限，继续走在这一领域研究的前沿。这项研究侧重于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中，采矿和废物管理通常被视为独立的职能。对这些功能进行优化时，通常不考虑它们之间在矿山寿命期间和之后存在的相互依存关系。每项功能的单独优化并不能保证全球最优，因为全球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、延迟开垦和资源冲销。拟议研究的主要目标是制定一个理论框架，将采矿规划和废物管理优化结合起来，以促进可持续资源开发。预计研究结果将导致废物管理和地雷规划系统的无缝结合，从而产生可持续的最佳采矿计划和设计。这将确保：采矿过程中有持续的复垦；最终的景观设计在环境上是可接受的；避免资源消毒；矿化的矿山废物作为未来的资源得到适当的管理。这项研究的贡献将是通过采矿系统中物质流动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。这项研究将培训高素质的采矿专业人员(学生)，以确保通过强有力的决策，改善资源治理，全面协调矿山，并减少矿山生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。

SUMMARY OF PROPOSALThe 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.