MIRARCO is a leader in bringing Virtual Reality (VR) to the mining industry. Since the opening of the Sudbury Virtual Reality Laboratory (VRL) facility at Laurentian University in 2001, projects in mining exploration, geomechanics and environmental issues have been conducted and presented to industry participants and stakeholders. The facility is recognized as an excellent knowledge transfer tool to understand spatial data. As mining is an industry with large amounts of spatial data, the VRL has proven to be effective in a wide range of applications.

Recently, MIRARCO demonstrated the application of VR to improving visibility for underground mobile equipment. The models are also being currently applied to mine rescue training. Current research can be grouped into two distinct areas. The first is in developing an understanding of the information required by working mine teams and how this can be presented within a VR environment. Secondly, the communication elements required from the control groups to the mines rescue teams will be defined and tested within a VR demonstration model. The completion of this research will provide the capability to develop "mine based" VRL facilities for operational decision making in many technical areas.

A graduate student is required to assess how existing geomechanics and ventilation data can be interactively incorporated into existing training modules. The current project which supports this research is utilising VR technology mine rescue control groups training. The development project will reproduce a mine environment which can be negotiated by a mines rescue team. This would include a visual orientation of the affected mine area, including mine layout and any structural features or items that could influence their decision making.

The outcomes from this project will be a demonstration 3D model which will highlight how a control group could use VR and its additional benefits to current best practice methods. The long term aim is to produce VR mine based facilities as a communication and decision making technology.

Potential graduate students in either the computing science or mining engineering (with an interest in computing technology) are encouraged to apply.

To apply or for more information contact:
Dr. Paul Dunn
Director, Centre for Mining Technology
(705) 675-1151 x. 5074