NSERC grants at Laurentian University Subventions du CRSNG `a l ...

117Vassilios KazakidisFlexibility assessment in mine planning and design:applications for flexible technologies and methodsA grant of $18,000 per year.Une subvention de 18 000 $ par année.Discovery Grant – Subvention à la découverteMinimization of cost is often a paramount objective inmining projects. However, the rigidity of a low-cost mineproduction system may itself eventually prove costly,unless the ability to respond to changes through time isbuilt into the mine plan. The introduction of operatingflexibility into a mine plan should become another parameterof the evaluation process, complementing theattention given to production capacity and operatingcost. The proposed research builds on existing expertisein the assessment of flexible mining systems and the evaluationof operating delays in underground hard rock mines. The focus of theproposed research is the application of quantitative flexibility assessment tonew technologies, as well as methods, sequences and production schedulingfor the optimization of planning and design in underground hard rock mines.This research will affect both the decision-making process in undergroundmine production systems, which is often based on previous experience andproduction/cost criteria, as well the on evaluation criteria for the introductionof innovative technologies.The proposed research program is essential for the introduction of a methodologyfor making key operating decisions (such decisions can have aneconomic impact in the order of millions of dollars). This is the first attemptto introduce a process for assessing operating risk in mines and linking it tothe evaluation of methods and technologies that contain quantifiable flexiblecomponents. The significance of the research is the establishment of new criteriaand approaches to evaluate parameters that are crucial for making theright decisions, and the introduction of new philosophies into the operatingenvironment where, currently, key decisions are frequently based exclusivelyon past experience and intuition.