Using fuzzy TOPSIS method for mineral processing plant site selection

Site selection for the mineral processing is the most important decision made by owner that has a significant impact on the efficiency of the whole process. This is a critical decision which involves considering a number of criteria and finding the best location among feasible alternatives. Therefore, a multicriteria decision-making method is necessary to apply site-selection process to find the best location that meet desired conditions set by the selection criteria. This paper presents an application of TOPSIS method based on fuzzy sets (fuzzy TOPSIS), which is one of the broader multicriteria decision making means, used to select an appropriate site for mineral processing plant for Sangan iron ore mine (phase 2). For this purpose, at first considering the geological, technical, economical, and environmental factors, three feasible alternatives were selected for the processing plant using Geographical Information System. Then, based on the technical and experimental experiences and through judgment of the decision makers and experts, 14 criteria were established and these alternatives were evaluated. Finally, the alternatives were ranked and the best location was recommended.Abstractإن عملية اختيار الموقع المناسب لمعالجة المعادن تعتبر من اهم القرارات التي يجب على المسؤول اتخاذها والتي من شأنها ان تؤثر على كفاءة عملية المعالجة برمتها. لاتخاذ مثل هذا القرار المهم جدا يجب الاخذ في الاعتبار عدة معايير وبناء عليها يتم اختيار افضل موقع من بين عدة خيارات اخرى متاحة. بناء على ذلك، من المهم ان يكون قرار اختيار موقع المعالجة مبني على طريقة تتبنى تعدد المعايير وذلك لإيجاد افضل موقع على الاطلاق والذي بدوره يجب ان تتوفر فيه الظروف التي حددتها تلك المعايير. هذه الورقة العلمية توضح طريقة تطبيق عملية الـ TOPSIS المبنية على عدة اختبارات لاختيار الموقع الملائم لإنشاء معمل لمعالجة المعادن المستخرجة من منجم Sangan لرواسب الحديد (المرحلة الثانية). من اجل تحقيق هذا الهدف تم اولا اختيار ثلاث مواقع مجدية لإنشاء معمل المعالجة باستخدام نظام المعلومات الجغرافية (GIS) وذلك بعد الأخذ بعين الاعتبار العوامل الجيولوجية والتقنية و الاقتصادية و البيئية. بعد ذلك وبناء على الخبرات العملية والتقنية والمشورة المقدمة من الخبراء ومتخذي القرار تم اقرار اربعة عشرا معيارا وتم تقييم المواقع الثلاثة. وفي النهاية رتبت تلك المواقع حسب الافضلية وتمت التوصية بالموقع الانسب والافضل من بينها.

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