A Sensitivity analysis of air commuter networks serving uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan
Date
1985
Authors
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Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Air commuting to remote mining projects in the Canadian
north is only a decade old despite a lengthy history of the use
of air transportation in remote regions. Rotational work
schedules and air commuting began with frontier oil exploration
efforts in the Beaufort Sea and the Canadian Arctic in the early
1970s. From there its use spread to the mining industry in the
Northwest Territories and northern Saskatchewan. From
experimental beginnings with the opening of the Rabbit Lake
uranium mine in 1975, air commuting has replaced permanent town
construction as a method of obtaining a workforce for uranium
mining projects in Saskatchewan. Air commuting developed in
Saskatchewan in the absence of detailed study to serve first one
mining operation and presently to serve all three operating
uranium mines.
This study develops a methodology for analyzing passenger
routing in the air commuter systems. Commuter systems are modelled as finite network graphs. Using network flow programming the study proposes optimal routing patterns for each separate network and proposes a least cost integrated system to simultaneously serve the commuter transportation needs of all
three operating mines. The research points out that the methodology developed can be used in planning studies to develop optimal system response to changed conditions such as development of additional mines, establishment of new pickup points or changes to the availability of employees at specific pickup points.
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Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Geography and Planning
Program
Geography