Professor of Mining Engineering, University of Alberta.

Ali Moradi Afrapoli Ali Moradi Afrapoli is an Assistant Professor in Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky and co-author of this study. His research focuses on applying operations research, mathematical modeling, and simulation to optimize mine planning and decision-making processes in open-pit mining. Ali’s work emphasizes sustainable practices, integrating economic and environmental considerations to enhance mining efficiency while reducing ecological impacts. With a background in developing advanced AI-driven models for fleet management and production scheduling, he contributes extensively to improving operational effectiveness in large-scale mining projects. Hooman Askari-Nasab Hooman Askari-Nasab is a Professor of Mining Engineering at the University of Alberta and Director of the Mining Optimization Laboratory (MOL). His research applies operations research, optimization, and simulation to address large-scale mining challenges, aiming to minimize environmental impact and financial risk in mine planning and design. His expertise spans risk-based mine planning and simulation optimization of mining systems. Through MOL, he leads projects in optimizing resource extraction processes to meet industry needs, focusing on innovative approaches in operations research and sustainable mining practices.

Dr. Angelina Anani is an associate professor in the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering at the University of Arizona. She earned both her B.S. (Summa Cum Laude) and Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. With over a decade of research and teaching experience, Dr. Anani specializes in mine planning, mine safety, and the modeling and optimization of mining systems, focusing on sustainability and efficiency. Dr. Anani is the winner of the 2022 Freeport-McMoRan Inc. Academic Career Development Grant from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) and the prestigious 2023 Outstanding Young Professional Award from the Mining and Exploration Division of SME.

Aldo Quelopana is a professor at Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering and a master’s in Informatics Engineering from the same university, as well as a master’s in Project Management from the University of Melbourne, Australia. His connection to and interest in the mining sector are rooted in his research during his doctoral studies in mining engineering at McGill University, Canada. Dr Quelopana has worked in the mining industry in Chile, though most of his career has been dedicated to academia. His current research focuses on stochastic mine planning, particularly enhancing algorithm efficiency and implementation in mine planning to bring greater realism to mining models. He collaborates in a multidisciplinary team on various projects with industry partners, producing research for practical application in the field.

Muthia Sukma is a graduate in Industrial Engineering. She currently works at PT Pamapersada Nusantara as a Scientific Analytic Expert. She has a keen interest in data analysis, where she focuses on analyzing production performance in the mining industry. The results of her analyses lead to improvement recommendations.