Open Access Research Article

Finding Optimal Routes for Main Haul Roads Development in Mountainous Open Pit using A* algorithm

Kun Ui Hong1, Un Chol Han2*, Mun Hyok Kim1, Chung Il Kim1 and Bun Hui Kim3

1Faculty of Mining Engineering, Kim Chaek University of Technology, Pyongyang 999093, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

2School of Science and Engineering, Kim Chaek University of Technology, Pyongyang 999093, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

3Faculty of Application mathematics, Kim Chaek University of Technology, Pyongyang 999093, Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaUniversity of Lisbon, Portugal

Corresponding Author

Received Date: June 02, 2022;  Published Date: June 21, 2022

Abstract

The main haul roads can significantly affect the cost associated with hauling ore and waste to the concentrating mill or waste dump, so finding optimal routes for main haul roads development is very important for opening-up the mountainous open pit. In this study, we propose a new method to search the optimal route for main haul roads development using A* algorithm based on a 3D terrain model of the mountainous surface mine. Here, a 3D terrain model was made by using Geovia Surpac software and input data for finding optimal routes were prepared by processing string file of Surpac and extracting the 3D coordinates in the mine area. The haul road layout in the mountainous surface mine was optimized by using A* algorithm based on least-cost path analysis. Finally, a 3D model reflecting the result of the main haul road layout was created by combining the haul road layout result with a 3D topographic model of the mountainous surface mine. The proposed approach was applied to the main haul road design for a limestone mine of Kangdong cement factory, DPR Korea. As a result, we proved that A* algorithm is more effective than genetic algorithm (GA). The proposed method is expected to be useful for finding optimal routes of the main haul roads in mountainous open pit.

Keywords: A* algorithm; Surpac; Main haul road; Surface mine; Finding optimal route

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