Vrlane: a Desktop Virtual Navigation and Safety Monitoring Porgram for Underground Coal Mine

Many coal mine companies have established underground safety monitor and control systems. However, the safety management information can only be displayed on the 2D maps or as reports. In this paper, a new method that combines the VR technologies with underground mine safety monitoring technologies was explored. A desktop virtual reality program for underground coal mine, called VRLane, was developed. As far as supervisors, visitors or trainees are concerned, they do not need to go the dangerous underground mining sites. On the contrary, they can investigate underground safety information on a PC or a remote console. It is one of the most attractive features of VRLane. Safety monitoring data obtained from underground mine equipments can be accessed by “clicking” the relevant piece of equipment model when walking or roaming in the virtual laneway. The paper mainly concerned about the current research advance in VR, system design, key techniques and system application. Several important techniques were introduced in the paper. Firstly, an algorithm was designed and implemented, with which the 3D laneway models and equipment models can be built on the basis of the latest mine 2D drawings automatically. Secondly, VRLane realized system integration with underground industrial automation. The system, with advantages of cheap, dynamic, easy to maintenance, provided a useful tool for safety production management in coal mine. * Corresponding author [email protected], phone +8610 6275 5420, fax +8610 62751187.