Application of ARENA Simulation Software for Evaluation of Open Pit Mining Transportation Systems – A Case Study

Abstract

ARENA simulation software as one of the most comprehensive tools of discrete event simulation modeling has been used in this research for evaluation of the transportation system of the Sungun copper mine. Its user friendly environment makes it easy for the users to construct a representative model of complex systems and freely make diversity of modifications to monitor the upcoming results. Using simulation modeling, different management systems of the open pit mining equipment including fixed and flexible assignments of trucks for loaders have been studied. Developed model in ARENA has the capability of considering detailed features of both loading and hauling equipment. Productivity assessment scenarios have been established on the constructed model for the current fixed assignment managing procedure. Furthermore, a dispatching simulation model with the objective function of minimizing truck waiting times have been developed and a 7.8% improvement obtained by applying a flexible assignment of the trucks for the loaders compared to the fixed assignment system.