Title: Modelling hauler movement in a distributed simulation of earthmoving operations

Authors: Duanshun Li; Cristian Petre; Cayce Kerr; Tim Joseph; Simaan AbouRizk; Yasser Mohamed

Addresses: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hole School of Construction Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Markin CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hole School of Construction Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Markin CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hole School of Construction Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Markin CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hole School of Construction Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Markin CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hole School of Construction Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Markin CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, T6G 2W2, Canada ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hole School of Construction Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Markin CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, T6G 2W2, Canada

Abstract: As critical components of mining and construction projects, earthmoving operations utilise heavy equipment to execute excavation, loading, hauling, dumping, grading, and compacting tasks in a repetitive and almost continuous manner. Previous models tend to simulate these operations at a higher level, which ignores various independent factors such as road layout, road material, road maintenance frequency, trucks and excavator characteristics, and weather conditions, which will affect the efficiency, environment and the capital cost continuously and dynamically. To incorporate various independent factors and models into the simulation platform, the simulation presented herein is developed with a distributed approach using high level architecture (HLA) standards to enable inclusion of different comprehensive models and behaviours that affect these operations. This paper presents the design and development of a comprehensive simulation of earthmoving operations and the components of the simulation and models implemented in each, with a major focus on the transportation and hauling component. It also describes the distributed development process and showcases the implementation outcomes and sample use and validation of the simulation.

Keywords: simulation; high level architecture; HLA; earthmoving operations; modelling; hauler movement; road maintenance; road layout; road materials; trucks; excavators; weather conditions; transport; hauling; mining projects; construction projects; earthmoving equipment; heavy vehicles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCOM.2016.082222

International Journal of Service and Computing Oriented Manufacturing, 2016 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.226 - 244

Received: 20 Jan 2015
Accepted: 12 Jan 2016
Published online: 13 Feb 2017 *

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