A Fuzzy-AHP Methodology for Planning the Risk Management of Natural Hazards in Surface Mining Projects

Philip-Mark Spanidis, Christos Roumpos and Francis Pavloudakis
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Philip-Mark Spanidis: ASPROFOS Engineering, Division of Project Management, 176 75 Athens, Greece
Christos Roumpos: Public Power Corporation of Greece, Mining Engineering Department, 104 32 Athens, Greece
Francis Pavloudakis: Public Power Corporation of Greece, Mining Engineering Department, 104 32 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-23

Abstract: Surface mining projects are vulnerable to natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, soil instabilities, and epidemic crises) which constitute the primary source of risks which affect the mining operations. In the framework of sustainable planning and development of such projects, the investigation of risk impacts is essential for taking the appropriate preventive measures before disastrous events appear in a mine. This paper proposes a methodology for the risk assessment of natural hazards in surface mining projects using the triangular Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) for the determination of the probability of risk occurrence, combined with the Expected Value (EV) function, the Monte Carlo simulation, and the Program Evaluation Review Technique PERT method for making predictions of cost and time overruns. A case study of a hazardous event with impacts in the operations of a surface mine demonstrates the methodology as a flexible and low-cost tool for mining executives. This tool is useful in the planning stage of pre-disaster management projects in the mineral industry, considering mine sustainability views. The research work also investigates critical technical and economic aspects.

Keywords: fuzzy analytical hierarchy process; hazards; surface mines; risk management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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