Interested in a VR demonstration? MIRARCO is scheduling demos bi-weekly on Fridays. For more information contact mirarco@mirarco.org

  

Please visit our Mining Exploratorium website for more information about VR in the mineral industry.

The power of Virtual Reality Displayed at CIM/AGM Vancouver 2002

MIRARCO has demonstrated leadership by pioneering the application of state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) technology in mining. This technology will change the way mining companies and researchers will use and exploit their data. Supported by two industrial sponsors (Goldcorp Inc. and Falconbridge Ltd.) and FedNor, MIRARCO commissioned Trimension Inc. to build a scaled down version of the Virtual Reality Mining Exploratorium at CIM/AGM in Vancouver this past April.

Senior management as well as mining experts from local, national and international mining companies were exposed to applications of virtual reality in exploration, mine planning and design. VR demonstration attendance exceeded expectations at a total of 415 people; this represented approximately 40% of the delegates.

As a recent Sudbury Star front-page article stated, "MIRARCO Stole the Show at CIM". The VR demonstrations were well received as many waiting on stand-by stated "I was told to see this".

Goldcorp and Falconbridge provided invitation-only and public sessions. Both companies' expectations of the number of people attending and the interest generated were exceeded.

It is anticipated that at least a half dozen projects will result in the short term for MIRARCO from this CIM exposure. Since then, Teck Cominco, Barrick Gold, Noranda, and Agnico-Eagle, have all visited the Virtual Reality Mining Exploratorium in Sudbury to discuss start-up projects.

MIRARCO commends CIM, Trimension Inc., FedNor, Falconbridge Ltd. and Goldcorp Inc. for their contributions to the success of the VRL demonstrations.

Mark your calendar and register: MIRARCO in the month of July
Map3D Workshop: Dr. Terry Wiles, will be traveling from Australia to Sudbury to host a Map3D workshop for the mining industry on
July 11 -13. Map3D is a full three-dimensional stress analysis program designed for the stability analysis of underground and surface excavations. For more information visit www.map3D.com and www.mirarco.org.

NARMS-TAC 2002 Conference in Toronto, July 7-10: MIRARCO staff will chair five sessions, including a specialty session on "How 3D visualization will change interpretation strategies in the future" and will present six papers on geomechanics and mine design issues. Dr. Peter Kaiser will also participate in the opening panel discussion on "Practical use of Geomechanics Modelling Tools". Immediately following the conference a small group of delegates will be attending a post-conference tour to Sudbury. Tour highlights include: VRL mine visits, Geology tour of the Sudbury Basin, and the Creighton Mine & SNO tour.

MIRARCO - Mining Innovation
Laurentian University
Willet Green Miller Centre
933 Ramsey Lake Road
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 6B5