Behind the virtual wheel.

• Author: Migneault, Jonathan
• Position: TRAINING & EDUCATION

Sudbury's Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NOR-CAT) can now recreate an underground mining environment without leaving the surface, thanks to a new state-of-the-art mining equipment simulator.

The centre's new ThoroughTec CYBERMINE4 simulator has been in operation for just over a month, and provides employees with Vale, Glencore and KGHM hands-on training with a variety of machines, including a MacLean bolter, an Atlas Copco rocket boomer, and underground loaders by Sandvik and Caterpillar

Last November, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation provided NORCAT with a $1-million contribution to help purchase the simulator .

Jason Bubba, NORCAT's director of training and development, said the simulator provides the closest learning experience to actually operating the equipment in an underground mine. "

The technology has essentially grown to the point where it's very realistic and very effective," he said.

The simulator is in a moveable trailer, and includes a computer for the trainer, and interchangeable controls that replicate a number of machines.

The controls sit atop a metal platform that moves as a machine would in a mine thanks to four electric motors. The movement is similar to a theme park ride.

The recreated cab is surrounded by high-definition screens that show the operator a graphical representation of his machine from a first-person perspective, like a modern video game.

After a training session, the supervisor can collect pages of data and graphs on the operators' every move and how they performed.

Even things that would not be easy to notice in person, such as how heavy-footed a driver is on their brakes, can be analyzed in perfect detail.

Bubba said the simulator allows the operators to get comfortable with a piece of equipment before they even set foot in a mine.

"It's very expensive to train people underground," he said.

Underground training takes equipment away from production, and can inflict extra wear and tear from inexperienced operators.

Once they've mastered the machinery in the simulator, they can graduate to NORCAT's underground training facility in Onap-ing Falls.

Bubba added the ThoroughTec simulator can recreate situations that would be too dangerous...