Virtual Environment (VE) Applications to Improve Mining*

长期目标和具体目标：该项目将调查技术和 减少矿用动力运输设备伤亡的干预策略 通过使用虚拟环境(VE)改进员工培训。 研究设计和方法：该项目将分为三个不同的步骤。 1)根据公开提供的资料，确定与采矿环境中动力运输有关的培训需求 从实地工作中收集的统计数据和数据。使用收集的数据和信息，确定可以 使用VE技术有效解决问题。 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的培训申请，以评估满足培训需求所需的VE水平； 以及培训的效果。 研究原理和技术：人员将与行业和监管合作伙伴合作 根据事故统计数据、现场观察和 面谈和2)合理预期改进培训可能导致事故减少的情况。 研究团队将使用一种称为可用性的过程来开发基于VE的培训应用程序 工程流程，包括以用户为中心的设计和快速原型制作。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，测试统计将 将收集和评估VE培训工具的有效性。 与公共健康的相关性：尽管技术和工作环境取得了许多进步，但采矿 仍然是美国最危险的职业之一。采矿业的死亡率是美国的六倍 高于全国其他行业的平均水平。此外，矿工受伤的严重程度超过 每次事故损失工作日百分比最高的所有其他行业。

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.