Support systems for making design decisions for technological platforms of mining systems using numerical methods and multi-criteria optimization
O.Y. Kozlova1, V.V. Agafonov2, A.S. Oganesyan2, V.V. Kozlov3
1 MIREA – Russian Technological University, Moscow, Russian Federation
2 National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russian Federation
3 Moscow Polytechnic University (Tuchkovsky Branch), Tuchkovо, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4/ 2026 p. 54-58
Abstract: The article discusses theoretical and practical aspects of making design decisions using expert models and technologies that rely on production rules and a compromise strategy of rating alternative options as the main tools of experimental modeling and providing a target strategy for designing a coal mining operation. The main components of the system dynamics methodology are formalized for modeling and analyzing of the obtained data. A methodological approach is proposed for selection of the coal mining technological platforms, which is based on the support systems for design decisions using numerical methods and multi-criteria optimization of the decision-making procedure, i.e. the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The authors made a research on selecting a mining method for mining method mine sections of the Elegest coal deposit, which forms the basis of the technological platform for the deposit development. Coal seam No. 2.2 Ulug, with the average thickness of 7.9–8.0 m and the dip angle of 3–26°, was selected for priority mining. The Nicholas and UBC methodological approaches were used as the numerical methods. The averaged optimization results (the average rank values) were obtained using the ELECTRE I, PROMETHEE II, AHP, and AHP-PROMETHEE decision-making methods. The study showed that, the most preferable technological solution for the mining conditions of the Elegest coal deposit is the one that utilizes sublevel caving.
Keywords: coal mining company, decision support system, expert models, numerical methods, multi-criteria optimization, technological platform, preference functions
For citation: Kozlova O.Y., Agafonov V.V., Oganesyan A.S., Kozlov V.V. Support systems for making design decisions for technological platforms of mining systems using numerical methods and multi-criteria optimization. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4):54–58. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4-54-58
Article info
Received: 12.03.2026
Revised: 12.05.2026
Accepted: 10.06.2026
Information about the authors
Olga Yu. Kozlova – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor at the Department of Higher Mathematics-3, MIREA – Russian Technological University, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Valery V. Agafonov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor at the Department of Geotechnology of Subsurface Development, Mining Institute, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Armine S. Oganesyan – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor at the Department of Computer-Aided Design and Design, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Valery V. Kozlov – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Associate Professor, Moscow Polytechnic University (Tuchkovsky Branch), Tuchkovо, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
References
1. Frolov A.S., Okhrimenko E.A., Agafonov V.V., Okhotnikov V.E. Razvitie metodologii sistem podderzhki prinyatiya proektnykh resheniy v oblasti promyshlennogo izvlecheniya metanovykh resursov. M.: Gornaya kniga; 2023. 20 s. (In Russ.)
2. Balashova I.V. Analyzing Problems of Decision-Making in Project Management. Vestnik of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. 2022;(2):74–81. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21686/2413-2829-2022-2-74-81
3. Balashova I.V., Tereshchenko T.A. Decision support systems. The Scientific Heritage. 2021;(79-4):3–7. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24412/9215-0365-2021-79-4-3-7
4. Kureichik V.M. Features of decision making support system design. Izvestiya SFedU. Engineering Sciences. 2012;(7):92–98. (In Russ.)
5. Khorolskiy A.A., Grinev V.G. Selection of scenario for the development of mineral deposits. Geology and Bowels of the Earth. 2018;(3):68–74. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31097.72809
6. Tsibizova T.Yu., Karpunin A.A. Method of hierarchies’ analysis for quality assessment of managerial processes. Modern Problems of Science and Education. 2015;(2-1):200. (In Russ.) Available at: https://science-education.ru/article/view?id=20847 (accessed: 15.03.2026).
7. Furtsev D.G., Kovalenko A.N., Tkachenko E.А. On the optimization method based on the analytic hierarchy process. Belgorod State University Scientific Bulletin. History, Political Science, Economics, Information Technologies. 2014;(1):142–149. (In Russ.)
8. Miller T.L., Pakalnis R., Poulin R. UBC mining method selection. In: Singhal R.K., Mehrotra A.K., Hadjigeorgiou J., Poulin R. (eds) Mine planning and equipment selection 1995: proceedings of the fourth International Symposium on Mine Planning and Equipment Selection, Calgary, Canada, 31 October – 3 November, 1995. Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema; 1995, pp. 163–168.
9. Nicholas D.E. Method selection – A numerical approach. In: Stewart D. (ed.) Design and operation of caving and sublevel stoping mines. New York: SME-AIME; 1981. Chapter 4, pp. 39–53.
10. Nicholas D.E. Selection method. In: Hartman H.L. (ed.) SME mining engineering handbook. 2nd ed. Society for Mining Engineering, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc.; 1992, pp. 2090–2106.
11. Shahriar K., Oraee K., Bakhtavar E. A study on the optimization algorithms for determining open-pit and underground mining limits. In: Conference Proceedings 7th International Scientific Conference of Modern Management of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection (SGEM 2007), Albena, Bulgaria, June 11–15, 2007. Sofia: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConferences; 2007, pp. 246–253. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/3083
12. Mardani A., Jusoh A., MD Nor K., Khalifah Z., Zakwan N., Valipour A. Multiple criteria decision-making techniques and their applications – a review of the literature from 2000 to 2014. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja. 2015;28(1):516–571. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2015.1075139
13. Sitorus F., Cilliers J.J., Brito-Parada P.R. Multi-criteria decision making for the choice problem in mining and mineral processing: Applications and trends. Expert Systems with Applications. 2019;121:393–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2018.12.001
14. Brans J.P., Vincke P.H., Mareschal B. How to select and how to rank projects: The Promethee method. European Journal of Operational Research. 1986;24(2):228–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-2217(86)90044-5
15. Shinkarenko V.I., Vasetska T.M. Simulation the process of ranking of alternatives of hierarchies analysis method by means of constructive and productive structures. Mathematical Machines and Systems. 2016;(1):39–47. (In Russ.)
