Due to their nature, many industrial sites are difficult to access for safety and logistics reasons and prevent safe and consistent onsite training or routine site access by inexperienced personnel or decision makers and stakeholders. Virtual reality simulations can be used to express ideas and concepts, engage stakeholders and train and prepare workers for site operations. Assessment and demonstration of the application of safe work procedures and evaluation of emergency response plans can be achieved away from production pressures and site risks. Operators can gain "site" experience prior to arrival at the real site. Preparing people in this manner can improve their confidence and make them better prepared for the work place. When people are more confident and more risk aware, then incidents and injuries should reduce.
Advanced virtual reality simulation also allows complex data and procedures to be converted into an intuitive and graphical format that can easily be comprehended and understood by experts and non-experts alike. The method can be used to develop safe work procedures, safety management plans and risk assessments that are best practice and achieved through collaboration between different teams within an organisation. The robustness of safe work procedures and risk management processes can also be evaluated in a safe and forgiving environment, thus reducing risk in real terms. If required, the actions of the trainees may be logged and scenarios may include video clips, photographs and real mine site rules and procedures.
The technology used to display scenarios can be a personal computer, web-based modules, or large screen immersive environment simulations. Virtual reality simulation can also be used for Mine Information Modelling and analysis of diverse data sets.
Mine site virtual reality offers many benefits to an organisation, which may include:
For virtual reality to be effective, their development must be based on a Training Needs Analysis or Industry Needs Analysis, rather than just on the blind or spot application of technology. It is easy to succumb to the promises of new technologies and the possible benefits they may bring, but first the real needs of the organisation must be identified. Visualisation and simulator technologies can only provide limited improvements in operations unless their integration is planned strategically.
The research has established that in order to achieve the potential benefits of simulation for operator and maintenance training in the coal or metalliferous mining industry, or mine site familiarisation, the virtual reality simulators need to have the following characteristics:
Nevertheless, it must be appreciated that the difference between people knowing how a task should be done versus how they actually undertake the task will remain. The attitudes and aptitudes of a person will still determine how they apply the knowledge and skill imparted by simulated training.
The IMPS will still apply:
Research has identified that there is potential for simulators to assist in identifying persons prone to these IMPS if they have the potential to impact on operations.
Research has also shown that simulator technologies may be the last part of the business improvement solution.