Virtual Environment (VE) Applications to Improve Mining*

描述（由申请人提供）：长期持续性和具体目标：该项目将调查技术和干预策略，通过使用虚拟环境（VE）改善工人培训，减少采矿业中动力运输设备的伤亡。 研究设计和方法：该项目将分为三个不同的步骤。 1)根据公开的统计数据和从现场工作中收集的数据，确定与采矿环境中的动力运输相关的培训需求。使用收集的数据和信息，确定可以使用VE技术有效解决的领域。 2)设计、创建和测试VE培训应用程序，以满足这些特定的培训需求。 3)评估基于VE的培训应用程序，以评估满足培训需求所需的VE水平以及培训效果。 研究依据和技术：工作人员将与行业和监管合作伙伴合作，以确定具体的培训领域：1）根据事故统计、现场观察和访谈，确定高优先级培训领域; 2）合理预期改进培训可减少事故的培训领域。研究团队将使用一个称为可用性工程过程的过程开发基于VE的培训应用程序，该过程包括以用户为中心的设计和快速原型。工业和监管合作伙伴将测试应用程序的有效性。在项目期结束时，将收集测试统计数据，并评估VE培训工具的有效性。 与公共卫生的关系：尽管有许多技术和工作环境的进步，采矿仍然是美国最危险的职业之一。采矿业的死亡率是全国其他行业平均水平的六倍。此外，采矿业的伤害严重程度超过所有其他行业，每起事故损失的工作日百分比最高。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): LONG TERM OBJECTIVES AND SPECIFIC AIMS: This project will investigate technologies and intervention strategies for reducing injuries and fatalities from powered-haulage equipment in the mining industry through improved worker training using Virtual Environments (VE). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The project will be divided into three distinct steps. 1) Identify training needs related to powered haulage in the mining environment based on publicly available statistics and data collected from field work. Using the data and information gathered, identify areas that can be effectively addressed using VE technology. 2) Design, create and test VE training applications to address these specific training needs. 3) Evaluate VE-based training applications to asses the level of VE required to address the training needs, as well as the efficacy of the training. RESEARCH RATIONALE AND TECHNIQUES: Personnel will work with industrial and regulatory partners to identify specific training areas that are 1) high priority, based on incident statistics, field observations, and interviews and 2) where it is reasonable to expect that improved training may result in incident reduction. The research team will develop VE-based training applications using a process known as usability engineering process, which includes user-centered design and rapid prototyping. Industrial and regulatory partners will test the effectiveness of the applications. At the end of the project period, testing statistics will be collected and effectiveness of the VE training tools will be evaluated. RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH: Despite many technological and work environment advances, mining remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. The fatality rate in mining is six times higher than the national average for other industries. Additionally, the severity of injuries for mining exceeds all other industries with the highest percentage of lost work days per incident.