Dig-limit Optimization: Mixed Integer Linear Programming for grade control in open-pit mining

In open-pit mining on a bench level, the dig-limit optimization problem is deciding whether to classify a Selective Mining Unit(SMU) as waste or whether to classify it as ore. SMU’s with high ore grades are profitable for the mining operation, but due to equipment size a whole frame of SMU’s has to be classified as either ore or waste. In this...