WVU Researcher Develops AR Training for Mining Safety

A researcher at West Virginia University (WVU) is developing an augmented reality (AR) training program to improve safety around powered haulage vehicles, which are responsible for nearly 50% of mining fatalities due to limited visibility. In West Virginia, powered haulage has led to the highest number of mining-related deaths for a decade.  

Deniz Tuncay, assistant professor at the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering, is creating AR technology to help workers identify blind spots and hazards. The program will project blind spots onto the trainee’s surroundings, allowing them to practice hazard response in a controlled, risk-free environment. Tuncay aims to target miners with less than a year of experience, a group most vulnerable to such accidents.  

The program, which includes AR simulations, video, quizzes, and data tracking, will be tested with both inexperienced students and experienced miners. It is supported by over $173,500 from the U.S. Department of Labor Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.