A Shuttle Car Assignment Problem in the Mining Industry

Abstract

Shuttle cars form a part of the standard equipment employed by the mining industry in the transportation of coal when using the room-and-piller method for extracting coal from underground seams. These cars are subject to frequent failure, so the problem of assigning shuttle cars to sections of the mine is considered in this paper, with the objective of maximizing expected output. A particularly simple solution is found that could be used readily by any mine foreman.