A Second Life Virtual Quarry

For further information on this project see http://www.derby.ac.uk/news/worlds-first-quarry-in-cyberspace . The Virtual Quarry is an interactive learning tool developed by technical and pedagogical personnel at the University of Derby under the direction of the Institute of Quarrying.

Its aim is to replicate, in a virtual world environment, the problems and situations that quarry personnel may come across, particularly in the area of safe quarry operations investigating potential problems and resolving them.

The virtual quarry is closely based on a real quarry. It takes up the full space of a second life 'island' approximately 16 acres. A lot of attention has been spent in making the navigation around the quarry realistic in order to achieve a genuine 'immersive' experience, where students will act closely to the way they would in a real environment.

There are dynamic virtualisations of quarry machinery and of rockfeatures in the quarry. The virtual environment however allows situations to be created that would be too costly, too rare or too dangerous to be created in real life. It also allows the student genuine freedom of movement; the freedom to act in ways that, in the real world, would be hazardous but in a virtual world would allow them to learn from their mistakes.

The virtual quarry is built to enable individual or collaborative tasks. The environment is currently configured for single user tasks, carrying out safe blast of a quarry face during which it is hoped they will develop the necessary observational skills and planning awareness to carry out the task in real life.

All activity begins in the briefing area where students are given:
- A briefing of the task and
- The equipment that they will need to carry them out.

Whilst in the briefing area they can orient themselves with the geography of the quarry as well as see where important features of the quarry can be found.

There are currently two tasks that the Virtual Quarry has been programmed for.

A hazard identification task where the students either individually or in organised groups have to investigate parts of the quarry for safety hazards.

The other task is a correct blasting sequence. In the blasting activity students have to take correct steps. Every action they take is recorded and errors in the in the correct sequence are played back to the student at the post activity debriefing.

Some incorrect actions have immediate consequences that can be directly displayed to the student. In this case a failure to check all explosives has resulted in a misfire with a potentially dangerous outcome.

Now that this elaborate infrastructure of the Virtual Quarry has been built, the Institute of Quarrying in conjunction with the University of Derby intend to develop it into a tool that can be a major facility for developing the health and safety awareness of quarry personnel. Over the next few months the developments will continue for piloting for use with the University of Derby's Quarrying programme.

The Virtual Quarry is generally a closed area but examination of its features can be arranged by emailling secondlife@derby.ac.uk or contacting Akmed Olkhovsky, inworld.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Virtual Quarry
• University of Derby
• Institute of Quarrying
• Second Life

[DrD0000M]

Where are the virtual eco-protesters?

[spectrum99122]

I have applied to have further access to this excellent virtual quarry environment. But that was weeks ago and I've had no reply yet (:<

[ThaiSecondLife]

Thanks, very well introduction.