# An Integrated Decision Support System for Low-Disturbance Surface Mining
## 4 Discussion  
The LDM framework was quantitatively analyzed using the F-AHP method, grey clustering method, and F-TOPSIS synthesis method. Experts with relevant technical expertise were invited to participate in the research process to analyze the situation of open pit mining in China. The results show that the level of reality LD for all four leading indicators is at the \"low\" level, which shows a negative tendency, indicating a low level of LD. For desirability, all leading indicators are at the \"high\" LD level. So, if these are handled properly, the future performance of LDM is very optimistic for open pit mines that currently face lower LD standards. By further analyzing the sub-indicators, the current performance and future significance of the indicators were obtained, respectively. For the leading indicators, this paper gives the corresponding technology paths and ranks them. Below is a discussion of all the indicators according to their prioritization, as well as the technical pathways, with the prioritization determined by the results of realism (from low to high) and desirability (from high to low). \"Control of stripping works (CS)\" is the worst-performing leading indicator with the highest available value. Of the three sub-indicators, \"Stripping intensity (CS2)\" received the highest priority, followed by \"Intensity of land degradation (CS3)\" and then \"Extent of damage to extraction sites (CS1)\". Open pit mining and stripping works disturb and destroy the whole original surface, which affects the balance of the ecological environment system [39; 40; 41]. Open pit mining disturbance can be reduced at the source by optimizing the control of the stripping project. Relevant literature shows that every 10,000 tons of coal mined in open-cast coal mines destroys 0.22 \(\mathrm{hm^{2}}\) of land area, of which 0.12 \(\mathrm{hm^{2}}\) of land area is destroyed by direct excavation, 0.10 \(\mathrm{hm^{2}}\) of land area is occupied by the external discharge site, and the average annual land area destroyed and occupied is as much as 10,000 \(\mathrm{hm^{2}}\)[42]. Therefore, controlling the intensity of open pit rock stripping at the source is considered a key indicator to which the open pit mining industry must pay due attention. This paper gives a preliminary ranking of technology pathways and their prioritization under this indicator; the order is \"Optimized design (OD)\" > \"Intelligent dispatch (ID)\", \"Landclamation (LR)\" > \"Optimisation of processes (OP)\". The path focuses on the issue of reducing the disturbance of mining and stripping works from the source, emphasizing the reduction of stripping disturbance in open pit mines through optimized design and intelligent scheduling. \"Control of emission rock (CE)\" received second priority. The sub-indicators under this category are, in descending order of priority, \"Intensity of land occupation (CE4)\", \"Utilisation of inner dump (CE3)\", \"Emission intensity of strippings (CE2)\" and \"Extent of damage to dumping (CE1)\". During the mining process of open-pit mines, to obtain more resources, it is necessary to strip a large amount of soil and rock, which are discharged to the internal or external dumps, a process that not only destroys the original stratum but also the external dumps pressurize the land and seriously damage the original ground surface. Studies have shown that there may be some degree of heavy metal accumulation in soils from open pit mine dumps [43; 44]. Therefore, to make positive progress in LDM, \"Control of emission rock (CE)\" is an indispensable key pathway and should be adequately controlled. This paper gives a preliminary ranking of the technology pathways and their prioritization under this indicator, and the results of the ranking are, in order of priority, from highest to lowest: \"Optimised design (OD)\", \"Land reclamation (LR)\",