The mining industry is known to be risky. New approaches are therefore required to enhance the process of professional adaptation while also significantly improving the state of occupational health and safety, particularly for the youngest employees. With the implementation of virtual reality (VR) technology, miners and mining engineers’ students may learn and practice appropriate conduct in a safe and regulated setting.

The Center for Mine Safety and Health in partnership with Minverso has created the first stage of the world’s first mine safety training program using the Metaverse platform. This training program includes two modules. The first module is a mine rescue mission where the users can interact with each other and work together to rescue miners from an LHD that caught on fire inside a mine. In the second module, users can drill and blast an active face of the mine. The Metaverse quest platform allows multiple users to join the mission at the same time from different parts of the world. Users can interact with each other in the virtual world and work together towards a common goal. For this experience, the user wears a Meta Quest Head-Mounted Device (HMD) which is one of the most immersive types of virtual reality.

This project combines modern technology with academic expertise to aid students and mining professionals in understanding and gaining skills in methodologies that are difficult to conceptualize and replicate inside a classroom.

To achieve this immersive learning experience, a team composed of qualified faculty, the company Minverso (a VR training company), and research assistants of the department, will test and validate the technology with industry partners to develop a more complex health and safety training program for the mining industry.