Towards sustainable mixed reality simulation for the mining industry

ABSTRACT Twenty-first-century mining is a complex pursuit. Stakeholders must manage many interconnected processes and data sets to ensure an operation is sustainable. Mixed Reality (MR) simulation may present an opportunity to improve knowledge and understanding of mine operations via a digital twin. Current and future personnel can model and make predictions using past, current and future data sets. However, MR is still an uncommon tool in the mining industry. This paper asks why that is the case, what some common barriers may be to MR adoption, and presents a possible collaborative solution to make MR sustainable as the technology gains hold and becomes commonplace in mine operations and elsewhere.

[1]  Andrew Squelch,et al.  Virtual reality for mine safety training in South Africa , 2001 .

[2]  Damian Schofield,et al.  Computer graphics and virtual reality in the mining industry , 1995 .

[3]  T M Ruff,et al.  Virtual reality for mine safety training. , 2000, Applied occupational and environmental hygiene.

[4]  Rudrajit Mitra,et al.  Can artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic be integrated into virtual reality applications in mining , 2014 .

[5]  Zhou Keping,et al.  Virtual reality simulation system for underground mining process , 2009, 2009 4th International Conference on Computer Science & Education.

[6]  Philip Swadling.  VRLoader – a Virtual Reality Training System for a Mining Application , 2004 .

[7]  P. Milgram,et al.  A Taxonomy of Mixed Reality Visual Displays , 1994 .

[8]  P. Stothard,et al.  Taxonomy of interactive computer-based visualisation systems and content for the mining industry – part 2 , 2015 .

[9]  Mehmet S. Kizil,et al.  What can virtual reality do for safety , 2001 .

[10]  David Laurence,et al.  Establishing a sustainable mining operation: an overview , 2011 .

[11]  A. Foster,et al.  Virtual reality in improving mining ergonomics , 2004 .

[12]  Aashish Chaudhary,et al.  Immersive Visualization for the Geological Sciences , 2014, Handbook of Virtual Environments, 2nd ed..

[13]  Kay M. Stanney,et al.  Handbook of Virtual Environments - Design, Implementation, and Applications, Second Edition , 2014, Handbook of Virtual Environments, 2nd ed..

[14]  Eugenia M. Kolasinski,et al.  Simulator Sickness in Virtual Environments. , 1995 .

[15]  Ruth de Villiers,et al.  Usability context analysis for virtual reality training in South African mines , 2008, SAICSIT '08.

[17]  Andrew Squelch.  Virtual reality simulators for rock engineering related training. , 1997 .

[18]  T. J. Orr,et al.  Enhanced fire escape training for mine workers using virtual reality simulation , 2009 .

[19]  Etienne van Wyk.  Improving Mine Safety Training Using Interactive Simulations , 2006 .

[20]  Damian Schofield,et al.  Hazard awareness training for mining situations using virtual reality , 1998 .

[21]  Norma J. Stumbo,et al.  Virtual reality technologies , 2011 .