An Interactive Mobile Equipment Task-Training with Virtual Reality

Improving the quality of equipment training for the Heavy Equipment Operators (HEO) is a critical task in the ever-lasting effort to improve safety and eliminate equipment-related injuries in mining environments. Traditional miner training includes the use of hardcopy documents and video instructions. However, modern mobile and computer technology offers tremendous potential to improve the training process. One major responsibility for the heavy-machine operators is proper machine inspection. Establishing new training methods that utilize modern technologies—such as 360-degree images, videos, and Virtual Reality—and implementing computers for training purposes have a potential to help new operators learn how to conduct proper machine inspections in a more efficient and technically correct way. This technology could potentially provide a higher knowledge retention rate for heavy machine operators. This study utilizes a 360-degree camera, open-source platform WordPress™, and the software Unity3D in order to create materials and tools for the HEOs training, which in turn will help trainees to better understand the pre-shift machine inspection. The outcomes of this research are organized into three major phases: Gathering materials, Computer-Based Task-Training (CBTT) software, and Virtual Reality (VR) application. The 360-degree images/videos, 2D images, and sounds were first gathered, edited, and incorporated into the CBTT and VR applications. The major feature of the CBTT, developed with WordPress™, is its training template with instructions on creating a new training course for the HEOs. The training courses developed for this study cover seven different machines that are widely used in surface mines. Also, the CBTT software is optimized for use on mobile devices (such as smart-phones and tablets). The VR applications for the same machines are developed with one of the most popular game engines - Unity3D. To interact with the virtual world, a trainee can use the Head-Mounted Display (HMD) iii Oculus Rift CV 1, which establishes full immersion while performing the virtual tour of a selected machine. If used without HMD, applications become non-immersive desktop versions and can be controlled by using a mouse and keyboard. The user-friendly interface and multimedia environment are comfortable to handle, flexible, and potentially more convenient to use than paper-based documents. The CBTT and VR applications were developed, tested, and implemented at a surface coal mine in the southern United States

A sytemic study of mining accident causality : an analysis of 91 mining accidents from a platinum mine in South Africa

The mining industry is a very important sector of the South African national economy. A major factor threatening the sustainability of this industry is the worrying effect of mining accidents. These accidents usually lead to the destruction of property, injury/death of mine workers, and pollution of the environment. Although mining is generally seen as a hazardous operation worldwide, the accident rates in South African mines are still unacceptably high. Another worrying phenomenon is the fact that since 2003 reduction in fatalities and injuries has been 20– 25% short of annual targets set by stake holders. These factors make the safety of the industry a very important subject. The understanding of accident causality is a major step in the quest to reduce accidents. It is only with a good understanding of the accident process that effective remedies can be designed. Accident modelling techniques provide the necessary platform for the interpretation and understanding of accidents at workplaces. The Swiss Cheese Model of accidents has proven to be a very efficient way of analysing industrial accidents. In this model, an accident is seen as a combination of unsafe acts by front line operators and latent conditions in the organization. The model helps to identify factors in an organizational structure that influence human behaviour/performance at workplaces. This study is aimed at demonstrating how a systemic approach can be applied to the analysis of the causes of accidents in South African mines. In this study, an accident analysis framework has been developed from the Swiss Cheese Model, combining the Mark III version of the Swiss Cheese Model, the Nertney Wheel and safety management principles. The main section of the framework is made up of three layers of accident causality: proximal causes, workplace factors and systemic factors. The second section (metadata) of the framework incorporates contextual data pertaining to each accident such as age, experience, task being performed, and time of accident. These data enhance the understanding of accident causality. The third and final section of the framework incorporates information about accident causing agencies and the nature of barriers breached in the accident process

An evaluation framework for virtual reality safety training systems in the South African Mining Industry

The mining industry in South Africa contributes significantly to the national economy. Despite stringent safety legislation, mining accidents cause numerous fatalities and injuries. Inadequate or insufficient training is often cited as a root cause of accidents. Conventional class-based safety training has not reduced the incidence of accidents significantly. By contrast, virtual reality training tools can provide simulated exposure to real-world working conditions without the associated risks. This study describes the application of design-based research (DBR) in the design and development of two desktop virtual reality (VR) systems for safety training in the South African mining industry. The results of a usability context analysis were applied in the design of a VR prototype on generic hazards recognition and rectification, which was used and evaluated at South Africa‘s largest platinum mine site. A case study was conducted to investigate the causes and occurrences of falls of ground, which resulted in the design and development of a second VR prototype focusing on identifying and addressing underground geological conditions. DBR was also used in the generation of an evaluation framework for evaluating VR training systems, namely the Desktop VR Evaluation Framework (DEVREF), which is the major deliverable of the research. DEVREF can make a major contribution to the domain of e-training in mines and is transferable and customisable beyond its initial application. The process flow of the research thus moved beyond merely providing a solution to a complex real-world problem and became a classic DBR study with dual outcomes, namely a practical real-world solution in the form of two VR training systems and a theoretical contribution in the form of the DEVREF evaluation framework. DEVREF evaluates the design of desktop VR training systems in the categories of instructional design, usability, VR systems design, and context-specific criteria for mining. The use of DEVREF is demonstrated by reporting the application of its criteria in evaluating the two VR training systems. Heuristic evaluation, end-user surveys, and interviews were used as evaluation methods. A third contribution is methodological, in that this work proposes a new DBR process model and an interaction design lifecycle model suitable for VR training systems.ComputingD. Phil. (Information Systems

Educating the educators: Incorporating bioinformatics into biological science education in Malaysia

Bioinformatics can be defined as a fusion of computational and biological sciences. The urgency to process and analyse the deluge of data created by proteomics and genomics studies has caused bioinformatics to gain prominence and importance. However, its multidisciplinary nature has created a unique demand for specialist trained in both biology and computing. In this review, we described the components that constitute the bioinformatics field and distinctive education criteria that are required to produce individuals with bioinformatics training. This paper will also provide an introduction and overview of bioinformatics in Malaysia. The existing bioinformatics scenario in Malaysia was surveyed to gauge its advancement and to plan for future bioinformatics education strategies. For comparison, we surveyed methods and strategies used in education by other countries so that lessons can be learnt to further improve the implementation of bioinformatics in Malaysia. It is believed that accurate and sufficient steerage from the academia and industry will enable Malaysia to produce quality bioinformaticians in the future

Effect of Industry 4.0 on Education Systems: An Outlook

Congreso Universitario de Innovación Educativa En las Enseñanzas Técnicas, CUIEET (26º. 2018. Gijón

Occupational Accidents Related to Heavy Machinery: A Systematic Review

Surface and underground mining, due to its technical challenges, is considered a hazardous industry. The great majority of accidents and fatalities are frequently associated with ineffective or inappropriate training methods. Knowing that knowledge of occupational accident causes plays a significant role in safety management systems, it is important to systematise this kind of information. The primary objective of this systematic review was to find evidence of work-related accidents involving machinery and their causes and, thus, to provide relevant data available to improve the mining project (design). The Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement methodology was used to conduct the review. This paper provides the main research results based on a systematic review protocol registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), where the research strategy, information sources, and eligibility criteria are provided. From the 3071 articles identified, 16 were considered eligible and added to the study. Results are presented in a narrative-based form, with additional data provided in descriptive tables. The data analysed showed that the equipment often related to mining accidents are conveyor belts, haul trucks, and dumpers, especially during maintenance or repair activities. Attention should be paid to powered tools. Effective monitoring and machine operation control are some of the stated measures to minimise accidents. Particular attention should be paid to less experienced and senior workers, mainly through fatigue control, workload management, and appropriate training programs

Economic Reform in Tanzania and Vietnam: A Comparative Commentary

The economic reforms in Tanzania and Vietnam represent the two typical cases of transition economies in Asia and Africa, particularrly the transformation of the two developing economies from the planned to the market mechanism. In this paper, the two authors, Brian - a British economist and Dinh - a Vietnamese economist, have, basing on a comparative approach, enquired into various economic and social aspects of the economic reforms in the two countries, including the demographic transition, the change in population growth, the investment in human capital, the growth of GDP, the structural sransformation, the linkage between gricultural growth, rural development, food production and poverty alleviation, the reform in the industrial sector and the state enterprises, the change of ownership , the role of the State, the capital formation, the role of the domestic savings, foreign aid, investment and trade, the gains and losses from globalisation, with an aim to find the answer to the question why in the two cases, Tanzania seemed to follow the donors’ guidance better than Vietnam, but achieved smaller successes?http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40092/3/wp706.pd

Problem Space Identification for Developing Virtual Reality Learning Environments

Our study argues that the extant literature on virtual reality-based learning environments (VRLEs) currently lacks proper definitions and context descriptions for a problem space, which is fundamental for conducting design science research (DSR). Without properly conducted problem space identification, the most pivotal problems cannot be identified resulting solutions lacking validity and unreliable evaluations. This is a major challenge for the DSR in the educational field, but also for the research on VRLEs. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel DSR method to support rigorous problem space identification, which would allow rigorous and profound problem space analysis. The instantiation of our method is depicted with a VRLE development project. In the problem space identification –process we adopt the concepts of self-determination theory and learning path to study and consider individual and a system level of the current VRLE artifact. This theoretical lens enables us to identify the problem space for VRLEs and also suggest how the to-be-developed artifact to be later evaluated. This paper contributes by introducing a general problem space identification for VRLEs and a DSR method to guide the future DSR in the educational field.Peer reviewe