TY - THES

T1 - Comparative Case Study of Automated Truck Haulage and Remote-controlled Locomotive Haulage at Main Excavation Level

AU - Wu, Jiajun

N1 - embargoed until null

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This study provides an evaluation model to compare the application of automated truck haulage system and remote-controlled locomotive haulage system at the main excavation level of a medium sized underground mine operation. Both systems provide safe working environments and required productivity. Based on a mining project case, the comparative study evaluates both systems on two dimensions, total cost of ownership and the reliability of production with a model constructed for the case. Parameters of real mining practice and price factors for the Chinese mining market are generated as the input for the model. Though the total spending of both system are similar, the automated truck haulage system shows advantages in the comparative case over the remote-controlled locomotive haulage system in its net present value (discounted cashflow) of spending and ability to provide more reliable production. Providing the background of the labor cost inflation as a factor and the fluctuation of the mining industry, the automated truck haulage system should be more explored as an alternative to the locomotive haulage solution at main excavation level of a medium underground mining operation. A general discussion is provide based on the findings together with the limitation of the study.

AB - This study provides an evaluation model to compare the application of automated truck haulage system and remote-controlled locomotive haulage system at the main excavation level of a medium sized underground mine operation. Both systems provide safe working environments and required productivity. Based on a mining project case, the comparative study evaluates both systems on two dimensions, total cost of ownership and the reliability of production with a model constructed for the case. Parameters of real mining practice and price factors for the Chinese mining market are generated as the input for the model. Though the total spending of both system are similar, the automated truck haulage system shows advantages in the comparative case over the remote-controlled locomotive haulage system in its net present value (discounted cashflow) of spending and ability to provide more reliable production. Providing the background of the labor cost inflation as a factor and the fluctuation of the mining industry, the automated truck haulage system should be more explored as an alternative to the locomotive haulage solution at main excavation level of a medium underground mining operation. A general discussion is provide based on the findings together with the limitation of the study.

M3 - Master's Thesis (University Course)

ER -