FMS Quick Start Getting started with the Flexible Material Scheduler

 

FMS Quick Start

Getting started with the Flexible Material Scheduler.

1. Follow the steps described in MAO Quick Start to define:
   
   - mine inputs
   - stockpiles
   - external sources
   - destinations
   - global targets

2. Using the MAO-MFO Optimization Settings Optimization panel, select FMS: Schedule pushbacks and optimize material allocation.

3. Define FMS settings:
   
   - Select the FMS input file
   - Define the end period
   - Define the mining rates
   - Optionally adjust control parameters.
   - Run FMS.

How it works

Any NPVS surface files including imported surfaces defining initial topography and a sequence of pits (similar to Scheduler’s input) can be scheduled. The default input consists of the topography defined in Pit Optimization Settings and the NPVS generated pushback file.

1. An Input Parcel Model is built or retrieved.
2. The mining blocks are generated.
3. The mining blocks dependencies are generated.
4. The ore (raw material) from the mining block is divided into categories (grade classes) according to user specifications.
5. An .xml file containing all information (such as inputs, destinations, targets, and constraints) is generated and transmitted to the solver.
6. The Mixed Integer Programming problem is solved.
7. A Result Parcel Model is built; all reports are based on this model.

The following outputs are generated:

• Reports: the standard report identical to MAO reports and reports by pushback (mine and pushback for Multimine) generated on demand by a command on the Report control bar.
• OES (Optimal Extraction Sequence) defining block by block extraction schedule.
• Solver input and output in the form of Datamine Tables. Solver input (“Mining Blocks” and “Dependencies”) is generated by the application from the input described above. Solver output (“Solution”, “Schedule”, “Schedule by Period”, and “Stockpile Evolution”) represents the MIP solution to the problem. Note that the Solver operates on “Mining Blocks” and not on model blocks. NPVS translates the Solver solution back to model blocks and sub-cells to obtain a standard OES. The reports described above are based on the OES, so they differ somewhat from the Datamine Tables solutions.
• Result Model similar to those for Scheduler and MAO/MFO.

Studio NPVS’s MAO and FMS modules restrict ore that can go to a particular destination (processing method or stockpile) using grade constraints, if defined, on the sub-cell level. For example, if a given destination accepts ore with Au grades between 1 g/t and 2 g/t and Cu grades between 0.5% and 1.5%, only sub-cells with material meeting these constraints can go to that destination. MAO allows varying the grade constraints over time while FMS, for technical reasons due to the Blending Solver limitations

	Related Topics
	MAO Quick Start FMS Essentials About FMS MAO-MFO Settings: Optimization