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Modelling and Optimization for Sustainable Resource Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2024) | Viewed by 1982

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Engineering and Computer Science, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
Interests: strategic mining options optimization; integrated mine planning and waste management optimization; simulation of intelligent and autonomous mining systems; modelling and optimization for sustainable resource development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Mining and Geological Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Interests: simulation and optimization of mining systems; mine planning and production schedule optimization; design and management of sustainable mining systems; mine equipment reliability studies; ESG and clean energy transition in the mining industry; machine learning for mine safety; data visualization and analysis with VR; mining supply chain

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Guest Editor
School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Interests: data-driven mine optimization; simulation of mining systems; application of real options in engineering design and decision making; optimizing the operational energy efficiency in mines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is an unavoidable fact that when recovering any natural mineral resource from the ground, a process of concentration is initiated. This implies that as valuable minerals are excavated, waste streams are also generated. Historically, innovation has focused on optimal production of the valuable mineral alone. Sustainable resource development places equal weight on both material streams in a 21st century model of responsible mining. Among other things, responsible mining research is directly concerned with engineering design, decision making and computational science for the sustainable extraction and development of natural resources.

Modelling and optimization for sustainable resource development is expected to lead towards the seamless integration of waste management and mine planning systems. An integrated mine planning framework will ensure there is continuous reclamation during the process of mining, that final landscape designs are environmentally acceptable, resource sterilization is avoided and mineralized mine waste properly managed as a future resource. This Special Issue will be of interest to practitioners in the mining and environmental engineering industry, and stakeholders of the green economy.

Potential research areas to be considered include but are not limited to the following:

  • Sustainable mining systems design
  • Management of mineralized mine waste
  • Future resource management
  • Reclamation planning / management
  • Mining communities and resource development
  • Corporate social responsibility and sustainable mining
  • Other forms of mine waste / pollution management
  • Case-studies in sustainable resource development modelling and optimization

This Special Issue aims to collect and present high-quality and new research that address modelling and optimization for sustainable resource development. Therefore, all papers should have a direct connection to the modelling, design, planning, scheduling, management and optimization for sustainable resource development. Researchers from all relevant disciplines are invited to consider this Special Issue in publishing their work in this area.

Dr. Eugene Ben-Awuah
Dr. Angelina Anani
Dr. Yashar Pourrahimian
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable and responsible mining
  • mine waste disposal scheduling
  • mine reclamation
  • tailings planning
  • future resource management
  • integrated mine planning optimization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 1824 KiB  
Review
Sustainability in Long-Term Surface Mine Planning: A Systematic Review of Operations Research Applications
by Mehri Aghdamigargari, Sylvester Avane, Angelina Anani and Sefiu O. Adewuyi
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9769; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229769 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 992
Abstract
The mining industry, critical for global resource supply, has historically been linked to significant environmental degradation and social challenges, including habitat disruption, water and soil contamination, as well as fatalities. But recently, the industry has been undergoing a transformative change to meet evolving [...] Read more.
The mining industry, critical for global resource supply, has historically been linked to significant environmental degradation and social challenges, including habitat disruption, water and soil contamination, as well as fatalities. But recently, the industry has been undergoing a transformative change to meet evolving environmental and societal expectations. Operations Research (OR) provides essential tools and techniques to optimize decision-making processes in this context. This paper presents a comprehensive review of different OR methods and their applications in balancing economic, social, and environmental objectives in surface mine planning. Of the 63 papers reviewed, 45 were published by researchers from three main countries: Canada, the United States, and Australia, with 73% of these papers appearing in journals. This review highlighted that linear programming (LP), dynamic programming (DP), Lagrangian relaxation (LR), stochastic programming, and metaheuristics are among the most widely applied methods in surface mine planning within a sustainable development (SD) context. By evaluating the strengths and limitations of these techniques, this review offers valuable insights for researchers and practitioners aiming to improve production efficiency and sustainability through advanced planning strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modelling and Optimization for Sustainable Resource Development)
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