Chapter 6 Mine Plan Scheduling
This chapter is intended to help familiarize users with the scheduling features of Opencontour. This includes a walkthrough of the Create Schedule module, as well as a detailed explanation of the Fleet Operational Time Model that works as the basis of Opencontour's scheduling tools.
Video: Setting Up a Mine Plan Schedule in Opencontour
Quick Access
- Setting Up Schedule Icons
- Create Schedule Module
- Fleet Operational Time Model
- Run Schedule Properties
- Tutorial Project Part 4: Scheduling a Mine Plan
6.1 Setting Up Schedule Icons
The first step that a user must take when creating a schedule in Opencontour is to set up all relevant scheduling icons within the Schedule and Roads layer within their project. This section will go over each of the different icons and features Opencontour has to offer in terms of scheduling.
6.1.1 Dumps
Dump Features in Opencontour represent locations that waste material will be sent to within a mine schedule. They can be added to a schedule by navigating to Add Schedule Feature > Add Dump Features.
Add Dump Features
When adding a dump feature, the user will be prompted to select a location within the Drawing Window. Ensure that it is added at the correct elevation within the project as this will effect truck hours if roads are added later.
Once the feature has been added, the user can see the elevation of a dump feature in the Project Window by activating the Schedule layer and querying it with the Properties (p) tool.
Dump Icon
After a schedule has been run, dump features record how many 'tns' of material were sent to them over the course of the schedule. Additionally, they contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (dump) |
| capacity | Assigned Capacity of Dump |
| tns | Total tns Routed to Dump during 'Run Schedule' Function |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
6.1.2 Haul/Load Features
Haul/Load Features represent equipment that will be used to move material within a mine schedule. They can be added to a schedule by navigating to Add Schedule Feature > Add Haul/Load Features.
Add Haul/Load Features
When adding a load or haul feature to a project, a user must first select a point in the Project Window where they would like to add the feature. They will then be prompted with the following dropdown:
Load/Haul Selection Windows
From here, the user may choose from a pre-populated dropdown of load and haul features. Once they have selected the equipment they desire, they may press the Add button, which will add it to their project. They may also choose to select the Equipment Info button, which will redirect them to an external website where the equipment info was sourced from.
Load Icon
Haul Icon
Load/haul features will not be physically connected to other phases or road segments in the project, so the user may add these features at any location or elevation without effecting the schedule run.
NOTE: To run a schedule, a user must add at least one load (shovel) feature to their project. And if they intend to utilize roads, they must also add at least one haul (truck) feature.
Load (shovel) features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (load) |
| avail | Availability rate of equipment |
| util | Utilization rate of equipment |
| efficiency | Efficiency rate of equipment |
| fleetCount | Total number of specified equipment in the project |
| tnsPerHour | Number of Tns that Loader Can Move per Hour |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
| Link | External Link to Equipment Info Website |
Haul (truck) features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (load) |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| rank | Priority of Haul Truck |
| avail | Availability rate of equipment |
| util | Utilization rate of equipment |
| efficiency | Efficiency rate of equipment |
| fleetCount | Total number of specified equipment in the project |
| speedBench | Speed of truck when it is driving along bench |
| spdHiGrdUpFull | Uphill speed of full truck when road grade > 7% |
| spdHiGrdDwnFull | Downhill speed of full truck when road grade > 7% |
| spdMidGrdUpFull | Uphill speed of full truck when road grade is between 3% and 7% |
| spdMidGrdDwnFull | Downhill speed of full truck when road grade is between 3% and 7% |
| spdLowGrdFull | Speed of full truck when road grade < 3% |
| spdHiGrdUpEmpty | Uphill speed of empty truck when road grade > 7% |
| spdHiGrdDwnEmpty | Downhill speed of empty truck when road grade > 7% |
| spdMidGrdUpEmpty | Uphill speed of empty truck when road grade is between 3% and 7% |
| spdMidGrdDwnEmpty | Downhill speed of empty truck when road grade is between 3% and 7% |
| spdLowGrdEmpty | Speed of empty truck when road grade < 3% |
| wait_time | Input for any wait time associated with truck cycle |
| truckfactor | Truck capacity percentage |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
| Link | External Link to Equipment Info Website |
6.1.3 Phases
Phase Features represent where each mining phase will begin within the mine plan. In Opencontour, each mine phase is typically designated by individual Cutter layers, which will have been created before this point in the project. They can be added to a schedule by navigating to Add Schedule Feature > Add Phase Features.
Add Phase Features
Once the feature has been added, the user can see the elevation of a phase feature in the Project Window, as the naming convention for these features indicate their elevation on screen.
Phase Icon
After phase features have been added, they should be queried with the Properties (p) tool so that their names can be changed to match each cutter they are associated with. If the names of the Cutter and it's phase do not match exactly, the schedule will not run properly.
Matching Phase Names
Phase features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (int) |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| order | Priority of Phase Feature |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
6.1.4 Stockpiles
Stockpile Features represent locations that excess ore material will be sent to within a mine schedule. They can be added to a schedule by navigating to Add Schedule Feature > Add Stockpile Features.
Add Stockpile Features
When adding a dump feature, the user will be prompted to select a location within the Drawing Window. Ensure that it is added at the correct elevation within the project as this will effect truck hours when roads are added to it later. Once the feature has been added, the user can see the elevation of a dump feature in the Project Window by activating the Schedule layer and finding where the feature is in the window and querying it with the Properties (p) tool.
Stockpile Icon
As a schedule is run, ore that cannot be processed within the constraints set in the Process tab will be routed to stockpiles based on the owmin and owmax limits set on the stockpile itself. These can be edited using the Properties (p) tool.
Stockpile features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (stockpile) |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| order | Priority of Phase Feature |
| owmin | Minimum Ore Routing Value Accepted |
| owmax | Maximum Ore Routing Value Accepted |
6.1.5 Intersections
Intersection Features represent juncture points between different scheduling features. They are used to indirectly link features together through the use of roads. They can be added using the Add Point Features tool.
Once the feature has been added, the user can see the elevation of an intersection feature in the Project Window, as the naming convention for these features indicate their elevation on screen.
intersection Icon
Intersection features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (int) |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
6.1.6 Capex
Capex Features allow the user to add various cost values to their mine plan over it's scheduled lifetime. To add a capex feature, navigate to the Schedule layer and press the addCapex button.
To add information to a Capex feature, first query it with the Properties (p) tool. There are four types of capital that a user can add to this feature:
- Capex (c1, c2, c3, etc.)
- Sustaining Capex (s1, s2, s3, etc.)
- Fixed Mine (fm1, fm2, fm3, etc.)
- Fixed Process (fp1, fp2, fp3, etc.)
The number associated with each property above represents the period that it will be applied in. For example, 'fm3' would represent a fixed mine cost in period 3. The user must also adjust the Capex property so that the number matches the total number of periods in the project.
Capex Icon
if the user choose to view their results in the Create Charts module after they have scheduled and scripted their project, they can navigate to Quick Charts > Cashflow to view the cashflow over the lifetime of the project, They will be able to see all of the capex values by period that they input earlier.
Capex features will not be physically connected to other phases or road segments in the project, so the user may add these features at any location or elevation without effecting the schedule run.
Capex features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| z | Topographic Elevation of Feature |
| type | Type of Feature (capex) |
| name | Assigned Name of Feature |
| capex | Assigns the Total Number of Periods in Project |
| c1, c2, c3, ... cn | Capex cost during a given period |
| s1, s2, s3, ... sn | Sustaining Capex cost during a given period |
| fm1, fm2, fm3, ... fmn | Fixed Mine cost during a given period |
| fp1, fp2, fp3, ... fpn | Fixed Process cost during a given period |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
6.1.7 Roads
Roads are used to physically connect schedule features to one another in order to facilitate truck hour calculations during scheduling. They are contained in the Roads Layer, and can be added to schedule icons through several different methods.
Roads Layer w/ Schedule Icons
To add roads, follow one of the two methods below:
addRoad Button
-
Activate the Schedule layer and ensure there are features present.
addRoads - Step 1
-
While holding down the
SHIFTkey, select two of the schedule features in the window. They should highlight green as seen below:addRoads - Step 2
-
Navigate to the Layer Menu, and select the addRoad button under the Schedule layer.
addRoads - Step 3
Adding Line Features
- Activate the Roads layer, and check the Schedule layer on so features are present.
- Select the Add Line Features (
) tool and the Snap to Layer(
) tool. - Draw a line between two features to connect them. Double click in the window to end the function.
Road features contain the following properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| from | Indicates from what destination/junction the road segment is coming from |
| la | Layer Saving Functionality |
| grade | Indicates the overall grade of the road after scheduling |
| projection | Legacy Coordinates Feature |
| to | Indicates the destination of the road segment |
| type | Type of Feature (road) |
| trkhr | Indicates the time in truck hours required to navigate this road segment. Populates after schedule run. |
| z | Starting road elevation |
| zto | Ending road elevation |
6.2 Create Schedule Module
To open the Create Schedule window, begin by selecting the Create Schedule button from the Utility Menu.
Create Schedule - Utility Menu
Clicking this button will open a window containing two tabs:
- Mine - used for creating and running mining schedules
- Process - used for creating and running process schedules
6.2.1 Mine Tab
The default view of the Mine tab is displayed in the image below:
Mine Tab
Number of Periods
Allows the user to select how many periods they would like to include in their project.
Start From
Allows the user to start from a chosen date to base their schedule on. Can be toggled on/off with checkbox.
Mine Phase
Includes a dropdown with all created mine phases for a user's project.
To add a phase: Simply write the name of the desired phase in the box next to the dropdown menu and click the Save button.
To delete a phase: select the phase from the dropdown menu and click the Delete button.
Road
Gives user two options to run schedule:
- External - Schedules using Roads layer, calculates truck hours
- None - Schedules without Roads layer, material totals only
Phase Priority
This bar displays all of the phases that were set up in Cutter and Filler layers. This bar also allows a user to select the order that they would like to mine their phases. To do so, drag and hold the phases until they are in the desired order.
Dump List
This bar, much like the Phase Priority bar, displays all of the dumps that are included in the Schedule layer. They can also be added/deleted from this list.
Load List
This bar displays each shovel that will be used for the project. Shovels themselves are set up in the Schedule layer and will appear in this list once set up.
Period
For each period that is set up in the project, the user may select from 4 different length options for each period:
- weekly (Weekly)
- mnthly (Monthly)
- qtrly (Quarterly)
- annual (Yearly)
Mine Constraint
This section lets the user to set the maximum allowable tonnage that can be mined for a single phase in a single period.
Max Bench
This section lets the user set the maximum allowable number of benches that can be mined in a given period.
Constraint Limit
This section lets the user set the maximum allowable tonnage that can be mined for all phases in a single period.
Chart
After the schedule has been set up and the Schedule button has been clicked, Opencontour lets the user select between three quick charts for viewing their data:
- Tns By Phase - Displays total tonnage mined in each phase
- Ore Waste - Displays total ore and waste mined by each period
- Truck Count - Displays how many trucks are required for each period, blocked out in down, standby, productive, and non-productive time
6.2.2 Process Tab
The default view of the Process tab is displayed in the image below:
Process Tab
Number of Periods
Allows the user to select how many periods they would like to include in their project.
Start From
Allows the user to start from a chosen date to base their schedule on. Can be toggled on/off with checkbox.
Process
This bar displays where the ore will be sent for processing.
To add a process: Simply write the name of the desired process in the box next to the dropdown menu and click the Save button.
To delete a process: select the process from the dropdown menu and click the Delete button.
Process Designation (using 'ow')
This section allows the user to select what ore they would like to send to the processing location based on the ow variable that it has been assigned.
For reference, the ow variable determines whether or not a block is defined as ore or waste. This variable can be edited within the Project Settings
To select what ore will be sent to the particular process location, Opencontour requires two values to be entered:
- Lower - low end cutoff for ow value
- Upper - high end cutoff for ow value
Period
For each period that is set up in the project, the user may select from 4 different length options for each period:
- weekly (Weekly)
- mnthly (Monthly)
- qtrly (Quarterly)
- annual (Yearly)
Process Limit
This column lets the user to set the maximum allowable tonnage that can be processed for a single process location in a single period.
Total Process
This column displays the actual amount of material that was processed during the given period.
Chart
After the schedule has been set up and the Schedule button has been clicked, Opencontour lets the user select between three quick charts for viewing their data:
- Tns By Phase - Displays total tonnage mined in each phase
- Ore Waste - Displays total ore and waste mined by each period
- Truck Count - Displays how many trucks are required for each period, blocked out in down, standby, productive, and non-productive time
6.3 Run Schedule Properties
When the user is satisfied with their inputs within the Schedule Window, they can press the Schedule button to run it. Doing this will assign a set of properties to the Mineplan Layer.
NOTE: Most of the properties in this list will only be populated if truck features have been added to the project, and the 'Road' dropdown is set to 'External'.
Here is the list of the properties with their associated descriptions and formulas:
| Run Schedule Property | Description/Equation |
|---|---|
| dest | The designated destination is written to the block and used to calculate the distances traveled (one-way). The available destination options are Dump, Leach or Stockpile |
| dist | Unit distance (one-way) from block to destination. data.dist = data.dstb + data.dstr + data.dsto |
| dsto | Outside Road Distance: one-way road distance from road designated as phase name (pn) to destination outside the pit |
| dstr | The one-way ramp distance from the ramp to the ramp exit vertice. Calculated as vertical height (elevation distance of Mineplan block to crest location, road designated as pn) / ramp grade |
| loads | Loads per block = total block tns / designated truck tonnage factor (payload). data.loads = data.tns / data.tf |
| lon | Loader fleet name, from load schedule feature fleet name |
| pm | Period Mined |
| pp | Period Processed |
| pr | Process used for the block. Property data.pr is written to ore blocks in the Mineplan according to the process used. Waste blocks will be blank. |
| pt | Period duration selected in the Schedule Window (mnthly, qtrly, or annual) |
| sp | Process used for the block. Property data.sp is written to ore blocks in the Mineplan according to the process used. Waste blocks will be blank. |
| speed | Speed for total haul. data.speed = data.dist * 2 / data.trph / 1000 (metric – km/hr, imperial – x 1000ft / hr) |
| status | If data.ow = 1, block will be processed or stockpiled. The available statuses are: Stockpiled, Dumped, or Processed |
| tf | Truck factor (payload), truck tns per load (same as that entered in Truck Fleet feature) |
| trah | Truck Available hours: data.trah = data.trwh / %trUtilization, where %trUtilization = Haul schedule feature property entered (Utilization = util) |
| trch | Truck Calendar hours: data.trch = data.trah / %trAvailable, where %trAvailable = Haul schedule feature property entered (Availability = avail) |
| trhb | Truck Bench hour (two-way) while travelling (dstb) Metric Calculation data.trhb = data.dstb / (truck speed speedBench 1000m * 2 * data.loads) Imperial Calculation data.trhb = data.dstb / (truck speedBench / 5280feet * 2 * data.loads) |
| trho | Truck Outside road hour (two-way) outside pit while travelling (dsto). shortRouteDist.trkhr * 2 * loads & if (shortRouteTrkhr > 0) shortRouteTrkhr * loads |
| trhr | Truck Ramp hour (two-way) while travelling (dstr) Metric Calculation data.trhr = (data.dstr / truck speed spdHiGrdUpFull / 1000m * data.loads) + (data.dstr / truck speed spdHiGrdDwnEmpty / 1000m * data.loads), or Imperial Calculation data.trhr = (data.dstr / spdHiGrdUpFull / 5280feet * data.loads) + ( data.dstr / spdHiGrdDwnEmpty / 5280feet * data.loads) |
| trn | Truck fleet name, from haul schedule feature fleet name |
| trph | Truck Value Productive Hours to haul the entire block (two-way): data.trph = (data.trhb + data.trhr + data.trho) |
| trwh | Truck Working hours: data.trwh = data.trph / %trEffective, where %trEffective = Haul schedule feature property entered (Efficiency = efficiency) |
6.4 Fleet Operational Time Model
A Fleet Operational Time Model carefully describes how time is categorized with respect to fleet equipment. The model utilized by Opencontour has been designed around the descriptions outlined by the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG). Both the Opencontour and GMG definitions will be outlined in this section:
GMG Time Use Model
| Time Category Description | Definition / Description |
|---|---|
| Calendar Time | Total Time Available |
| Scheduled Time | Equipment is required to meet business plan objectives and scheduled and assigned to a project or job |
| Unscheduled Time | Equipment is not scheduled or assigned due to external events out of management control, such as labor disruption, lack of market for product, force majeure or Acts of God, including major weather events extending beyond a scheduled operating shift |
| A planned shutdown would be in this category if shutdown was for inventory control purposes | |
| Equipment assembly, mobilization, demobilization and commissioning would fall into this category | |
| In the case of a contractor this would represent time no work exists | |
| Equipment in this category cannot be readily put into service | |
| Available Time | Equipment is capable of running and performing its intended function |
| Down | Equipment is not capable of running or performing its intended function |
| Scheduled Maintenance Time | Equipment is not available for operation due to scheduled maintenance. Scheduled maintenance is considered any work identified on a weekly maintenance schedule |
| Break-in Maintenance Time | Equipment is not available for operation due to any unscheduled maintenance, which is not reflected in the weekly maintenance schedule, including breakdown, planned but unscheduled preventive or corrective work or inspection. Scheduled maintenance which exceeds scheduled time becomes break-in time |
| Operating Time | Equipment is available, scheduled and an operator assigned (on board) and running (collecting meter hours); This is often referred to as Gross Operating Hours (GOH) |
| Standby | Sum of Operating Standby and Idle. If Idle not used, Operating Standby becomes Standby |
| Operating Standby | Equipment is scheduled and available but not assigned to an operator for reasons within management control, not related to operating conditions or environment; (meetings, workforce shortage) |
| Idle Time | Equipment is available, assigned to a project or site, but cannot be assigned for an extended period for reasons temporarily out of operational management control. (Shovel out of digging; drill waiting for drill area, workforce shortage). This would apply to a contractor, where client requests equipment to be shut down due to temporary lack of work, safety stand down, investigation, but requests the equipment be available for work when needed |
| Working Time | Equipment is operating as assigned, performing its intended function and activities. May also be referred to as Net Operating Hours (NOH) |
| Operating Delay | Equipment is manned and running but stopped or prevented from performing work due to delays inherent to the operation, or immediate physical and environmental conditions. Includes excessive Wait Time |
| Primary Productive | Equipment Operating, performing its primary intended function. (Scheduled - Down)/Scheduled or Available/Scheduled |
| Nonproductive | Equipment operating at intended function (i.e. Shovel Loading Trucks) but performing work that is not directly contributing to production, required to ensure continued safe and efficient operation such as face clean up, moving trailing cable and other utility work. Incorporates minor wait delays, including shovel waiting for trucks, or trucks queuing at shovel |
GMG Key Performance Indicators
| Indicator | Equation |
|---|---|
| Time the asset is being operated as a percent of total time available (Calendar) | GOH / Calendar |
| Time the asset is being operated when scheduled / Required / able to operate | GOH / Scheduled Time |
| Time Asset is efficiently utilized to intended function | NOH / Scheduled |
| Time the Asset is manned / Operating as a percentage of Available Time | (GOH) / (GOH + Standby + Idle) |
| Equipment is Physically Available to perform when needed by the operation | (Scheduled - Down) / Scheduled or Available / Scheduled |
| Time the equipment is available as a percentage of time required (manned) by the operation | GOH / (GOH + Down) |
| Total time a unit is mechanically capable of operating, whether scheduled or not | Available Time / Calendar (Total) |
| Time Operating time as a percentage of time equipment is manned | NOH / GOH |
Opencontour Truck Schedule Breakdown
Opencontour Definitions
| GMG Operational KPI's | Opencontour Description | Opencontour Reference (See Figure Above) | Opencontour Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar Time or Total Time | Calendar Truck Hours | Total Available Hours | data.trch |
| Available Time | Available Truck Hours | Available Hours | data.trah |
| Working Time | Operating Truck Hours | Operational Hours | data.trwh |
| Value Productive | Effective Truck Hours | Effective Hours | data.trph |
| Unscheduled + Down (Scheduled + Break-in Maintenance) | Truck is off, between shifts | Maintenance | data.trch - data.trah |
| Operating Standby + Idle + Operating Delay | Truck is off, between shifts | Standby | data.trah - data.trwh |
| Non-Productive + Production Loss | Truck is idle, waiting during shift | Operational Losses | data.trwh - data.trph |
Additional Opencontour Definitions
| Opencontour Description | Opencontour Property |
|---|---|
| Distance to Bench | data.dstb |
| Two-way truck hour of block to bench exit (1st Segment) | data.trhb |
| Two-way truck hour of ramp (2nd Segment) | data.trhr |
| Two-way truck hour of road outside of pit (3rd Segment) | data.trho |
| Truck Model | data.trn |
6.5 Tutorial Project Part 4: Scheduling a Mine Plan
This section is intended to help users set up various components such as equipment and destinations to build a functioning schedule using the pit they created in the previous step.
6.5.1 Setting up Trucks, Shovels, and Capex
- The next step to set up the fleet of trucks and shovels in the Schedule tab
- First, click on the Schedule tab, then click on the Schedule layer until it is highlighted orange
- Then, click the Add Schedule Feature button, then Add/Load Haul Features
- Then, click in the viewer window for a popup window to show up like this one:
Add Load/Haul Features Window
- Be sure to choose each truck based on whether or not the units for the project are Metric or Imperial in the Project Settings
- When equipment is added, the option to manipulate factors such as utilization, availability, speed at varying intervals, wait time, etc. is available
- Capex features can also be added in the Schedule layer by clicking addCapex. Its values can then be modified using the Properties tool
- When the equipment and capex has been added in, it should look like this:
Viewer Window w/ Load Haul Features
6.5.2 Setting up Phases and Destinations
- The next step is to set up the different phases, material destinations, and roads between each junction
- Begin by deselecting both the Schedule and Drawing tabs with the check box next to them
- Then, select only the BaseResult and Schedule layers, while making sure the Schedule layer is highlighted orange
- Now click Add Schedule Feature, then click Add Dump Features
- Click to place the dump in the viewer window
- Now click Add Phase Feature to add mining phase
- Click to place the phase in the viewer window according to its location
- Click the Properties button to exit properties window
- Then, to change the properties of the components, click the Properties button, and then click on the added phase and/or dump
- Click the Properties button to exit the properties window
- Finally, click Add Point Features
- Click somewhere on the viewer window between the stockpile and dump to set up an intersection for truck paths to diverge
- Ensure the phase name matches that of the pit created earlier
- Click somewhere on the viewer window between the stockpile and dump to set up an intersection for truck paths to diverge
- The viewer window should now look similar to this:
Viewer Window w/ Phases and Destinations
6.5.3 Setting up Roads
- The next step is to link roads throughout each of the created destinations and phases
- Turn on the Roads layer, then select the Schedule layer, ensuring it is still highlighted orange
- Then, click the Select tool
- While holding down the
SHIFTkey, select both the initial pit phase and the intersection. They should both highlight green - Under the Schedule layer, click on addRoad. A road should populate between the two points
- Repeat this step with all other destinations until the viewer window looks like this:
Viewer Window w/ Phases and Destinations and Roads
- Roads can also be edited by clicking on the Roads layer and using the Edit Features tab to drag vertices to better fit the topography
6.5.4 Mineplan Scheduling
- Navigate over to the Create Schedule module in the Mine tab
- Begin by ensuring the Phase Priority box contains all of the relevant phases that have been mapped out in the Schedule layer
- Ensure all relevant dumps are located in the Dump List box
- Make sure that the selected shovel is populated in the Load List box
- Now, set up all the periods in an appropriate manner. Periods have the following properties:
- Period: Monthly, Quarterly, or Annually
- Mine Constraint: How much material can be mined in that phase/period
- Max Bench: How many benches can be mined out in phase/period
- Constraint Limit: How much material can be mined in total for the entire period throughout every phase
- Once these properties are set, hit the Save button, then the Schedule button
- If this step worked, the user will be able to cycle through the pre-built charts in this module:
- Tns By Phase: Displays how many tons are mined out each period
- Ore Waste: Displays how many tons are mined out each period, separated by ore and waste
- Truck Count: Displays how many trucks are required for each period, blocked out in down, standby, productive, and non-productive time
- The window should now look something like this:
Scheduled Mineplan Window
6.5.5 Process Scheduling
- After the Mine has been scheduled, navigate over to the Process tab
- Periods have the following properties:
- Period: Monthly, Quarterly, or Annually
- Process Limit: The amount of material that can be processed during each period
- Once these properties are set, hit the Save button, then the Schedule button
- The pre-built charts should not change from the last section