Using a integrated MCDM model for mining method selection in presence of uncertainty

Abstract

The aim objective of this study is to model mining method selection problem for a real world case in Angouran mine which is one of the major zinc producers in Iran. According to many problems of ore body extraction are direct or indirect depend on underground mining method, this issue is one of the most critical decisions in the design stage of mine that should be made. A number of the evaluation criteria that often are in conflicting with each other exist for evaluating feasible mining methods. Therefore, the problem of mining method selection is a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) issue.On the other hand, according to the sophisticated structure of the problem, imprecise data, less of information, and inherent uncertainty, the usage of the fuzzy sets can be useful. In this paper an integrated model based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) is developed. FAHP is applied to determine the relative weights of the evaluation criteria for mining method selection that these weights are inserted to the FTOPSIS technique to rank the alternatives and select the most appropriate alternative. The study was followed by the sensitivity analysis of the results. The results of this study demonstrate the efficiency, capability, and robustness of the proposed model, which can be applied to different types of sophisticated problems in reality.