Selection of roadheaders by fuzzy multiple attribute decision making method

Planning/design decision problems affect the productivity in mining and construction sectors directly. Selection of the most suitable roadheader (boom type tunnelling machine) for the galleries/tunnels to be excavated in certain rock and under known project conditions is important not to meet problems during application. The present paper presents a fuzzy multiple attribute decision making as an innovative tool for the selection of roadheaders. A Turkish coal basin has been selected as practice area to show how a fuzzy multiple attribute decision making method will be used in the selection of roadheaders. First the criteria that might be effective during the selection of such machinery were set and then most suitable machine was determined by using Yager's method which is one of the fuzzy multiple attribute decision making methods. To conclude, the present study reveals that decision making methods can be used in the process of selecting excavation machines such as roadheaders for the excavation of galleries.