Genetic Algorithms Application and Testing for Equipment Selection

Abstract

This paper describes a research undertaken at South Bank University that investigated the feasibility of applying artificial intelligence methodologies to the optimization of excavating and haulage operations and the utilization of equipment in opencast mining. The selection of the excavating and haulage equipment to remove the overburden in opencast mining has a significant effect on the profitability of the operation. Thirty-five to fifty percent of the total cost of operating an opencast mine is attributed to excavation costs and 15–20% of the total cost is attributed to haulage costs. The decision to select equipment is often based on past experience, location, and different organizational pressures, as well as complex numerical computations. Therefore, the research was directed into the development of a decision support system XpertRule for the selection of opencast mine equipment (XSOME), which was designed using a hybrid knowledge-base system and genetic algorithms. The knowledge base within XSOME ...