Background

This project is a VR/AR tool that provides mining engineering students with virtual exposure to large-scale industrial mining machinery, such as crushers, mills, and flotation cells, which are often located in remote, hard to access, hazardous places in the real world. In addition, this project supplements the learning experience with the ability to test oneself on crucial knowledge pertaining to the machinery and mining processes, such as how raw ores are extracted, crushed, separated, and refined.  

Objective

The key challenge addressed by this project is the limited opportunities for mining engineering students to interact with mining equipment in real-world settings. The VR setting creates a learning environment where students can explore a virtual mineral processing facility, engage directly with machinery, and understand their roles within the processing workflow without putting themselves at risk. By providing a safe and immersive alternative, the tool enhances both learning outcomes and understanding of the mineral processing systems.

The Team

Principal Investigator:

• Tonia Welch, Assistant Professor, Department of Mining Engineering
• Dr. Bern Klein, Professor, Department of Mining Engineering
• Gonzalo Pizarro, Subject Matter Expert
• Pablo Quezada Cortés, Subject Matter Expert

Student Team:

• Alex Day, Project Lead, Developer (May 2026 – August 2026)
• Khushi Narang, Developer (May 2026 – August 2026)
• Kai Zhang, Project Lead, Developer (May 2025- August 2025)
• James Edralin, Developer (May 2025-August 2025)
• Chenyue Yang, UI/UX Designer (May 2025-August 2025)
• Nikita Prabhu, UI/UX Designer (May 2025-August 2025)