Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

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.