PS Scheduling FAQ

Owned by iarmstrong
Dec 01, 2021
3 min read

Have a new question? Feel free to leave an anonymous comment below.

Common questions from new and experienced users.

Why is my transaction showing zero values in activity X?

Reserve Sources

  • Check that the field selected in Setup > Primary Fields contains a value greater than zero.

  • Check the Initial Database step.

    • If the values are zero, the problem is in Rapid Reserver.

      • Go to the Designer tab in Rapid Reserver, show the block model at the bench level, and check for zeroes/voids/no block model assigned.

    • If the values are greater than zero, the problem is either in the Refinements, Preschedule, or Database Corruptor steps.

      • Check the database after each step to see where the values become zero, then fix the preceding step.

Stockpile Sources

  • Check all fields are populated in Setup > Stockpile Opening Values.

Why can’t I change the preschedule values?

Check that the pit tonnes are greater than zero. Pits with zero tonnes are automatically prescheduled to zero percent remaining.

What is the order of mining of material types in a dig blocks?

  • For a single dig block, the order of mining of material types is always the same between scenarios.

  • Between two dig blocks, the order of mining of material types may differ (ore then waste, waste then ore).

  • The user has no control over the order of mining of material types inside a dig block.

If you want to mine waste before ore, go to Rapid Reserver and cut the waste material out as a separate dig block.

How do cash flows affect the order of parcel selection in a block?

Cash flows do not affect the original parcel selection order.

How does the optimizer handle dig blocks with multiple parcels?

The optimizer selects the first parcel in the (arbitrarily ordered) material list, and decides what needs to be done with it. The optimizer will stay on that block until completed.

What happens if the optimizer “gets stuck” on a single parcel and there are still other parcels available within the dig block?

As the optimizer has already selected the original parcel, it will continue to try that parcel until it is completed. The digger will not move forward until the parcel is completed.

The block is already chosen before the optimisation runs. If the optimisation fails, then the engine exits and declares a “Do Nothing” delay for the duration of the Steady State.

What does Skip Blocks do in the Gantt?

This setting allows an agent to skip dependencies (entire blocks). Once the agent has commenced a block, it remains there until the block has finished.

How do I see flitches in the animation?

  • Animation tab > select from Visibility Mode button dropdown “View Selected”.

  • Records panel > Record Subset field > select from flitch subsets.

What is the relationship between the Calendar agent rate and the Haul Infinity loader rate?

The Haul Infinity loader rate is the instantaneous rate which the loader can achieve. The Calendar Agent Rate is the average loader rate you want to achieve during the period. The Calendar Agent Rate (average rate) multiplied by the available hours per unit equates to the loaders target tonnes to be achieved for the period with the hours available in that period.

Example:

  • Haul Infinity Loader Rate (Instantaneous) = 1,000tph
    Available Hours = 24hrs
    Loader Capacity = Instantaneous rate x Available Hours
    = 1,000 x 24
    = 24,000 tonnes

  • Calendar Agent Rate = 800tph
    Available Hours = 24hrs
    Target tonnes = Calendar Agent rate x Available Hours
    = 800 x 24
    = 19,200 tonnes