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\title
%{Virtual Reality Surface Mine Simulator\thanks{This 
{Surface Mine Truck Safety Training\thanks{This 
work partially supported by Newmont Gold Co., Echo Bay Minerals, 
%the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, and MSHA.}}
the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, 
and the Mine Safety Health Administration.}}

%\author{\begin{tabular}[t]{c@{\extracolsep{8em}}c}
%	\author{\begin{tabular}[t]{ccc}
%	Denis Cote 	&  Damien Ennis 	& Benjamin Lucchesi \\
%	Lu Chun Liao 	& Nerissa Oberlander 	&Keith Wesolowski \\
%	\multicolumn{3}{c}{Department of Computer Science}   \\
%	\end{tabular}
	\author{\begin{tabular}[t]{ccc}
	Damien Ennis 	& Lu Chun Liao 	& Benjamin Lucchesi \\
	Nerissa Oberlander & 			& Keith Wesolowski \\
	\multicolumn{3}{c}{Department of Computer Science}   \\
	\end{tabular}
\\
\\
\begin{tabular}[t]{cc}
Frederick C. Harris, Jr. 	& Pierre Mousset-Jones \\
Department of Computer Science 	& Department of Mining Engineering\\
fredh@cs.unr.edu 		& mousset@mines.unr.edu\\
\\
\multicolumn{2}{c}{University of Nevada}\\
\multicolumn{2}{c}{Reno, NV~~ 89557}\\
\end{tabular}}

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	\hspace*{1em}
	Workplace accidents in the mining industry reduce production,
	increase costs, and result in temporary, permanent, and even 
	fatal injuries  to mine workers.  Accidents are a major concern in 
	day-to-day mining operations and are expensive in terms of 
	both cost and employee morale.


	One of the most important tools for on-the-job accident
	prevention is worker training.  However, the cost of 
	training is high, particularly when the
	training attempts to provide a realistic and compelling image
	of risks associated with mining and proper
	techniques for avoiding those risks.  Preparing
	video demonstrations, conducting safety training tours of work
	sites, and on-site safety briefings can all be
	effective training tools, but are expensive and 
	disruptive to daily operations.  As a general rule, the more
	realistic the current training exercises are, the more expensive
		they are.

	As an alternative to on-site and video training, virtual
	reality technology offers an excellent medium for simulating
	real world situations.  The Mine Vehicle Safety Simulator
	(MVSS) developed at the University of  Nevada is an example of
	such a virtual reality training tool.  MVSS provides a cost-effective
	simulation of mine vehicle operation. Benefits of MVSS include
	interactive training, which can be tailored to the trainee's
	needs, versus static videos of training scenarios, and
	low work-place disturbance as opposed to on-site training.

	This paper provides a brief overview of the
	accident prevention challenge facing the surface mining
	industry with particular reference to off-highway haulage trucks
	that are typically used in this type of mining.
	It discusses the industry trend to explore
	new techniques for training workers and preventing accidents,
	describes the goals, concepts, and technology that
	underlie MVSS and provides an overview of its capabilities and
	operational modes.  Finally, the effectiveness of
	MVSS as a training tool and its future potential is discussed.
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