Mining is a complex business. Tunnels and shafts dug in the earth’s crust are subjected to ever-changing stresses that can cause “rock bursts,” disrupting production and creating risks to workers.

Mining engineering seeks to minimize the possibility of such events by careful design of a mine’s tunnels—a process that involves combining data from a number of sources, including core samples and seismic monitoring systems. The number and uncertainty of variables involved can make the engineering difficult.

Now, however, Laurentian University's applied research company MIRARCO, in Sudbury has developed virtual reality tools that speed the design process and enable more collaboration between geo-scientists and engineers. The new technology, adapted from systems developed for the oil and gas industry, turns scientific data into colourful, three-dimensional renderings of the situation underground, including the location of ore bodies and changing stress fields. This advanced imagery enables engineers and scientists to better interpret the data and to design mines accordingly.