Published in Australia's Longwalls
The collaborative research project between the University of New South Wales School of Mining Engineering, NSW’s Coal Services and the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) aims to train NSW miners to negotiate and identify potential hazards of a working mine in a safe and forgiving environment, before being exposed to a real mine site or emergency situation.
The virtual reality simulations are based on real mine site plans and data and manufacturer’s equipment drawings and specifications. The simulations also access multimedia technology and information that is built on best practice safety management documentation.
“The potential benefits of this type of technology to improved safety are huge as the technology has the capability to enhance understanding through the visualisation, interaction and manipulation of virtual mine equipment and services. Virtual reality provides an excellent tool that complements existing training methods and shows graphically the consequences of diversifying from the correct safe operating procedures or the implementation of an inappropriate procedure,” said University of NSW’s Dr Phillip Stothard.
The VR programs have been designed to work on systems ranging from a single desktop PC to a fully-equipped virtual reality theatre, thus enabling the use of the simulations on remote sites where a VR training room may not always be available.
Stothard said the simulations can be built from off the shelf hardware components and use drag and drop software that reduces the need for dedicated programming personnel. An important feature of virtual reality programs suitable for the coal-mining industry is that equipment and simulations must be modular in form and easy to update and maintain.
The current research project first got underway in 2000 at the instigation of NSW’s Coal Services, which commissioned a feasibility study that looked at the available technologies and their adaptability to the NSW mining industry.
The study identified a suitable technology format and found that apart from being able to train workers in a safe and forgiving environment, virtual reality technology was ideal for identifying those who may have gaps in their knowledge and require further training or up-skilling. The system also has the potential to identify flaws in existing training or safe working procedures.
The findings of the feasibility study and the construction of a virtual reality theatre in the University of NSW School of Mining Engineering resulted in the current project.
