Development of an integrated computer aided design and planning methodology for underground marble quarries

The EU dimension stone industry, in order to continue its successful operation in the difficult and unfamiliar underground terrain must be enhanced with the highest possible scientific and technological background. This will contribute to the minimisation of expected rising production costs due to: lower recovery, limiting space of operation, pillar and roof stability, to mention only a few of the problems an underground quarry operation will encounter. Most of the stone industries have accepted the need to proceed underground but they postpone their decision because of the aforementioned reasons, i.e. big risk and insufficiency of technological background. To face this challenge and involvement in a risk business, an integrated scientific approach to the problems associated with underground marble exploitation is urgently needed. The risk problem can be met by predicting block recovery in terms of size, quality and quantity, while the rising costs by optimising design of the rooms and pillars since it affects both recovery through size and orientation of underground works, and productivity through space availability and safety of working conditions