Search

The paper proposes a problem-solving approach in the area of underground mining, related to the evaluation and selection of the optimal mining method, employing fuzzy multiple-criteria optimization. The application of fuzzy logic to decision-making in multiple-criteria optimization is particularly useful in cases where not enough information is available about a given system, and where expert knowledge and experience are an important aspect. With a straightforward objective, multiple-criteria decision-making is used to rank various mining methods relative to a set of criteria and to select the optimal solution. The considered mining methods represent possible alternatives. In addition, various criteria and subcriteria that influence the selection of the best available solution are defined and analyzed. The final decision concerning the selection of the optimal mining method is made based on mathematical optimization calculations. The paper demonstrates the proposed approach as applied in a case study.

When considering data and parameters in hydrogeology, there are often questions of uncertainty, vagueness, and imprecision in terms of the quantity of spatial distribution. To overcome such problems, certain data may be subjectively expressed in the form of expert judgment, whereby a heuristic approach and the use of fuzzy logic are required. In this way, decision-making criteria relating to an optimal groundwater control system do not always have a numerical value. Groundwater control scenarios (alternatives) are identified through hydrodynamic modeling of the aquifer, providing an indication of their effectiveness. The paper develops a fuzzy-stochastic multi-criteria decision-making model to deal with a topical problem: selection of the most suitable groundwater control system for an open-cast mine. Both real numerical and linguistic variables are used to express the values of all criteria that affect the final decision. In particular, it should be pointed out that the values of the criteria are varied over a predefined time horizon. For mathematical calculations, fuzzy dynamic TOPSIS and the stochastic diffusion process—geometric Brownian motion—were used. The proposed method is tested in a case study: the selection of an optimal groundwater control system for an open-cast mine.