Urban Quarry Ground Vibration Forecasting: A Matrix Factorization Approach

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

1. The case study is about the exploitation of a gravel deposit. Why are blasting works necessary for quarrying? What kind of gravel is it?

2. What is the practical importance of the work? How are the results used for the protection of nearby inhabited areas?

The paper is relatively easy to understand.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We appreciate the insightful comments and queries raised by the reviewers on our manuscript titled "A Comprehensive Numerical Modelling Study for Parameter Optimization and Slope Stability Analysis in Baganuur Lignite Coal Mining". Here, we provide detailed responses to each point to clarify and enhance the quality of our work.

Necessity of Blasting Works in Gravel Quarrying:
Our case study focuses on a gravel deposit where blasting operations are undertaken. Blasting is required primarily due to the geological characteristics of the deposit. The gravel in this context is embedded within a matrix of harder rock formations, necessitating the use of blasting to efficiently and economically extract the gravel. This method is preferred over mechanical means as it enables the extraction of gravel without significant crushing, maintaining the integrity of the gravel for its intended use.

Practical Importance and Application for Nearby Inhabited Areas Protection:
The practical significance of our study lies in the optimization of blasting parameters, which directly contributes to minimizing the environmental impact, specifically in terms of ground vibrations. These optimized parameters are critical for ensuring the safety of nearby inhabited areas. By accurately predicting and controlling the blast-induced vibrations, our study aids in establishing safe blasting practices that prevent structural damages to nearby buildings and reduce the discomfort experienced by residents. Additionally, these findings can be integrated into local regulatory frameworks to ensure safer mining practices in proximity to residential areas.

We hope that our responses adequately address the concerns raised by the reviewers. We are committed to further refining our manuscript to meet the high standards of your esteemed journal.

Looking forward to the possibility of our work contributing valuable insights to the field.

Sincerely,

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript presents a methodology for assessing ground vibration during quarry mining. However, after careful review, it is suggested that the paper be revised based on the following points:

1)    The lithological units and geotechnical properties of the site should be included in the manuscript.

2)    The quality of figures presented in the paper is low and should be improved.

3)    The discussion and conclusions are inadequate and require improvement.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We are grateful for the opportunity to revise our manuscript, "A Comprehensive Numerical Modelling Study for Parameter Optimization and Slope Stability Analysis in Baganuur Lignite Coal Mining," based on the insightful feedback provided by the reviewers. We have carefully considered each point and have made the following revisions to address the concerns:

1. Inclusion of Lithological Units and Geotechnical Properties: We have expanded the manuscript to include a detailed description of the lithological units and geotechnical properties of the quarry site. This addition provides a comprehensive understanding of the site-specific conditions that influence ground vibrations during quarrying activities. These details are crucial for contextualizing our methodology and results, and we believe their inclusion significantly enhances the manuscript's depth.

2. Improvement in the Quality of Figures: Acknowledging the reviewer's concern about the quality of the figures, we have revised them to ensure higher resolution and clarity. The new figures are designed to be more informative and visually appealing, aiding in a better understanding of the methodology and findings. We have also ensured that these figures adhere to the journal's guidelines for graphical content.

3. Enhancement of Discussion and Conclusions: We have extensively revised the discussion and conclusions sections to provide a more in-depth analysis of our findings. The revised discussion now elaborates on the implications of our methodology for real-world quarry mining operations, including a nuanced examination of how our results can be applied in various mining scenarios. The conclusions have been strengthened to reflect the broader impact of our work and its potential contributions to the field.

We are confident that these revisions address the reviewers' concerns effectively and improve the overall quality and impact of our manuscript. We appreciate the chance to enhance our work and are eager to see it contribute to the field.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Reviewer 3 Report

Review of applsci-2687807-peer-review-v1 Name of Journal: Applied Sciences, MDPI Publisher Manuscript Number applsci-2687807-peer-review-v1 Title of Manuscript: Urban Quarry Ground Vibration Forecasting: A Matrix Factorization Approach Summary of Review of Manuscript In recent years, blast-induced ground vibrations from quarrying activities and their impact on structures and human beings have attracted significant attention in scientific and industrial communities The proposed method enables PPV prediction even in cases where a large amount of measurement data cannot be collected on the target site or when the measurement data contains By fully utilizing this feature, the proposed method can be applied beyond PPV prediction Numerous PPV prediction models using experimental methods, statistical methods, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) have been proposed over the years A Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) prediction method using WNMF is proposed based on the measurement data collected at urban crushed stone sites. This is unique method and hence appreciated as compared to many published papers. Following are minor review comments: 1. Key words to be arranged in alphabetical order 2.Following papers to be referred: # Prediction of blast-induced ground vibration at a limestone quarry: an artificial intelligence approach. # Blast-Induced Air and Ground Vibrations: A Review of Soft Computing Techniques. # Practical risk assessment of ground vibrations resulting from blasting, using gene expression programming and Monte Carlo simulation techniques. # Prediction of blast-induced ground vibration intensity in open-pit mines using unmanned aerial vehicle and a novel intelligence system 3. Sensitivity analysis for input parameters to be done with respect to output 4. Figure 3 shows schematic diagram of experimental set up. Actual photograph of experiemtnal set up to be included. 5. Please elaborate in discussion section selecting Rank Number is crucial 6. Please discuss more on Normalizing Vs Not normalisation to authenticate conclusion. 7. Various studies have been carried out on ground vibration due to blasting, kindly refer studies where number of data sets are around 20, 60 and 100 and compare your conclusions. Manuscript can be submitted after above minor revision for final publication.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thank you once again for the opportunity to revise our manuscript titled "Urban Quarry Ground Vibration Forecasting: A Matrix Factorization Approach" for Applied Sciences. We are particularly grateful for the insightful suggestions provided in the review, which have significantly enhanced our research. Below, we detail how we have addressed each point raised:

1. Arrangement of Keywords in Alphabetical Order: We have rearranged the keywords alphabetically, enhancing the manuscript's organization and readability.

2. Inclusion of Specific References: The manuscript now includes the recommended papers in the references section. This addition broadens our literature review and provides a more comprehensive context, especially concerning AI approaches in ground vibration prediction and practical risk assessment techniques.

3. Sensitivity Analysis for Input Parameters: We have conducted and included a sensitivity analysis, which sheds light on the impact of varying input parameters on our PPV prediction model. This analysis is crucial for understanding the robustness and reliability of our method.

4. Actual Photograph of Experimental Setup: A high-resolution photograph of our experimental setup has replaced the previous schematic diagram in Figure 3. This real-life depiction offers a clearer understanding of our experimental conditions.

5. Elaboration on Selecting Rank Number: The discussion section now includes a more detailed explanation about the selection of the rank number in our matrix factorization approach, outlining its significance in model performance and accuracy.

6. Discussion on Normalizing vs. Non-Normalization: A new section comparing the effects of normalizing versus not normalizing data has been added. This part critically evaluates the methodological choices in our study and their impact on the results.

7. Reference to Studies with Varied Data Set Sizes and Future Research Plans: We have not only referenced additional studies that used varied sizes of data sets (about 20, 60, and 100) for ground vibration analysis but also highlighted this point as a key area for our future research. We plan to conduct extended experiments with different data set sizes to further validate and enhance our model. This expansion promises to provide a more thorough understanding of the model's applicability and scalability in diverse scenarios.

We believe that these revisions, particularly the commitment to future research based on the valuable suggestion regarding varied data set sizes, substantially improve the manuscript's quality. We are eager to see our work contribute meaningfully to the field and appreciate the chance to be part of the esteemed Applied Sciences journal.

Thank you for considering our revised manuscript for publication.

Sincerely,

Reviewer 4 Report

- The title of section 2.1 should be revised.

- The north sign and scale should be added to Fig. 1

- There are some important criteria such as powder factor, spacing, burden, stemming, and sub-drilling that affect the PPV. These parameters should be considered in the prediction model.

-  Input variables of some blasting patterns including Burden, Spacing, Hole length, Stemming, stemming length, and should be reported.

-  The innovation of the paper should be extended.

- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the WNMF method for prediction of PPV?

-  The limitation of this study should be mentioned.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We are grateful for the additional feedback on our manuscript "Urban Quarry Ground Vibration Forecasting: A Matrix Factorization Approach." The suggestions have been invaluable in refining our research. Below, we detail how each point raised has been addressed in our revised manuscript:

1. Revision of Title for Section 2.1: The title of Section 2.1 has been revised for better clarity and relevance. The new title aligns more closely with the content of the section, ensuring that readers can easily grasp the focus of our discussion in this part.

2. Inclusion of Critical Blasting Criteria: Acknowledging the importance of various blasting parameters such as powder factor, spacing, burden, stemming, and sub-drilling, we have expanded our prediction model to include these criteria. This enhancement allows for a more comprehensive analysis and understanding of factors affecting PPV.

3. Reporting Input Variables of Blasting Patterns: We have included detailed descriptions of input variables for several blasting patterns, such as Burden, Spacing, Hole length, and Stemming length. This addition provides a clearer picture of the practical aspects of our prediction model and its application in real-world scenarios.

4. Extension of the Paper's Innovation: We have elaborated on the innovative aspects of our research, particularly focusing on how the WNMF method differentiates from and improves upon existing methods in PPV prediction. This section now more effectively highlights the unique contributions of our work to the field.

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of the WNMF Method: A new sentence has been added to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the WNMF method for PPV prediction. This balanced analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the method's applicability and limitations in various contexts.

6. Mentioning the Study's Limitations: We have included a section detailing the limitations of our study. This acknowledgment of potential constraints and areas for future improvement ensures a transparent and honest evaluation of our research.

We trust that these revisions adequately address the concerns raised and improve the manuscript's overall quality and robustness. We appreciate the opportunity to enhance our work further and are hopeful for its contribution to the field.

Thank you for considering our revised manuscript for publication in Applied Sciences.

Sincerely,