Development of dozer push optimisation software for commodore coal mine

Abstract

This paper details the development and evaluation of a recently created dozer push program, ‘Dump Designer’ that was used to maximise dozer push horizons at Commodore Coal Mine in the Surat Basin, QLD, Australia. The necessary data required for Dump Designer were collected from the geological model of Commodore. From this, Dump Designer was trialled and the dozer push horizons were maximised wherever possible. Operating costs were then applied to show the benefits of maximising waste allocated to dozers. After processing 556 mining blocks, it was concluded that the coal dip significantly affects the amount of waste the dozers are able to push. It was also found that there are some implementation constraints with regards to mine planning that may prevent the dozers from being able to work to maximum dozer push horizons.

Keywords

Dozer push Strip mining Dump designer

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