A Mixed Integer Programming optimization model for mining truck dispatch policies using traffic constraints: Case of a copper mine in northern Chile

Productivity in open pit operations in the mining industry is conditioned by the manual assignment of trucks by the dispatcher, who does not have the ability to find the optimal policy by himself, having many variables that consider. To this end, an MIP optimization model is proposed that considers the scheduling of a discretized operating shift in smaller stages that consider positions and capacities of available trucks, and congestion based on a differential speed based on the number of trucks in different sections of the transport route. The model seeks to prioritize the transfer of material to crushers and meet material goals during the planning horizon. Preliminary results indicate that it is possible to reduce the violation of the production plan by destination by 12% and increase productivity by 46% with respect to the state of the art of similar solutions.