Simulation and Animation Model of Fabero Coal Mine Operation

The main purpose of this research is to develop a simulation and animation model for a giant open pit coal mine in Spain known as Fabero. This simulation model aims to study different mine equipment selection scenarios. The simulation software package used in this research study includes GPSS/H® and PROOF animation. The application of simulation models for studying mining systems under real conditions is well known and accepted by mine management, particularly in mine design, planning, development and optimization. This simulation model focuses on analyzing the performance of the fleet of shovels and trucks in the mine and shows how simulation is a useful technique to optimize mine operations and the development phases of new operations in a mine. This simulation and animation model is used to come up with best answers to "what if?" questions/scenarios that mining engineers might want to address. Animation enhances the effect of a mine simulation model. By combining the visual power of animation with a mine simulation model, a complete picture of the mine system is obtained and displayed