Fuzzy Logic-Based Analytic Hierarchy Process and Principal Component Analyses for Optimal Surface Mining Techniques

In this paper, seven production methods including drilling and blasting are evaluated concerning technical, environmental, and economical aspects. These production techniques are wheel excavator, hydraulic excavator, surface miner, hydraulic hammer, bulldozer, and face miner. This study is carried out to find the best technique, that may alternate to the classical drilling and blasting method. However, the use of such classical production method may be the only option for some quarry operators. Various comparison aspects are investigated concerning the welfares of these systems, the relation between the potential improvement of the ecological effects on the one hand and the technological potential, and the costs on the other. Two different statistical analyses that are the Fuzzy Method Analyses Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Principal Component Analyses (PCA) are applied in this assessment. The final evaluation of the two mathematical models is matched closely, and it proves that the drilling and blasting is the most efficient method then come after it bucket wheel excavator, hydraulic excavator, surface miner, hydraulic hammer, bulldozer, and face miner, respectively. The range of competency among these techniques regarded to drilling and blasting efficiency is ranged from 78.5% to 20%.