Northern R & D in demand globally.

Groundbreaking mining technology, such as virtual reality labs, developed by a research consortium affiliated with Laurentian University, has caught the attention of major South American geologists.

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Paul Dunn is the director of the Centre for Mining Technology, one of three research centres associated with the Sudbury-based Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO). In mid-October, Dunn will be making a presentation at a major geological conference in Brazil.

"I see this as a good opportunity. There's the potential here to further the name of MIRARCO, says Dunn.

At the meeting, Dunn will be presenting information on MIRARCO's Virtual Reality Lab and on the general research work of the group.

According to Dunn, the companies contacted MIRARCO first and were particularly impressed with the work they are doing in virtual lab, among other initiatives. In September 2001, MIRARCO launched its mining exploration program, which opened the door to the development of the world's first "collaborative immersive virtual reality laboratory" designed to help mining exploration in a controlled environment. The research led to the development of a 22-foot-radius spherical screen. Mining planners can upload data on a specific mine and explore the area, usually in teams, without actually being there. The advantage is that mining companies can perform much of their exploration, studies and planning using virtual reality.

The lab is also widely acknowledged for its ability to help investors research the potentials of new mining prospects before major financial investments are made. MIRARCO estimates that using VRL cuts 20 to 50 per cent of the time out of mining acquisition evaluations.

The virtual reality lab, he says, was originally used in the oil and gas exploration industry and MIRARCO adapted its use for underground mining.

Toronto-based mining company GoldCorp, makes use of a virtual reality lab at their highly lucrative Red Lake mine.

Dunn will also be highlighting other significant work MIRARCO has done, including work in improving high-pressure water jet scaling technology. Dunn himself conducted most of this research.

Part of the initiative, Dunn says, is to show the value of open technology transfer within the mining community. MIRARCO employs more than 40 full-time researchers, specializing in a wide variety of mining fields, something that is becoming less common. Dunn says that downsizing at mining companies is killing independent research. Technology development, he says, is being led by R & D companies that specialize in their own product lines to the exclusion of others.

Sharing the knowledge and technology, he says, will enhance the market use of it for the entire industry.

"Are we going to sit back and let the equipment manufacturers decide our R & D needs for the future?" he says.

Dunn also hopes to share the research MIRARCO has done in using the VRL to complement research internationally. The consortium developed the Northern Advanced Visualization Network (NAVNet), that made use of communication infrastructure, and the VRL to allow mining researchers to communicate between national and international offices using virtual reality technology. Companies will be able to discuss exploration and investment decisions through the technology and bring down costs to individual companies, he says.

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BY JOSEPH QUESNEL 

Northern Ontario Business