Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Imagine sitting behind the wheel of 10-foot tall, 25-foot long, 800-horsepower, $1.5-million truck carrying 40 tonnes through the tunnels of an underground mine.

Want to take a test drive?

Peter Larsen, vice-president of exploration for Sandvik Mining and Construction, gives Susan Huvenaars a few tips on how to drive a simulated version of a Toro 40D, a 40-tonne truck used to haul broken materials underground. - Jennifer Obleman/NNSL photo

The 70 people who attended Sandvik's open house last week from Wednesday to Friday had the chance to do just that - in a virtual world anyway.

They were all able to go for a spin in CyberMINE, a heavy equipment training tool that simulates an underground environment.

"This is fantastic," said Susan Huvenaars, a career counselor at Ecole St. Patrick high school, after trying out a simulated Toro 40D, a 40-tonne underground haul truck.

"It really does feel like you're driving this great big monstrosity."

With the CyberMINE, the operator sits in a replica cab, complete with all the instruments and gauges, and watches three high resolution screens that show exactly what you'd see if you were looking out the windshield of the real thing. In addition to trucks, the system can also replicate the operator's experience in loaders, bolters or jumbos in a real mine.

The instructor can even create mechanical failures, traffic and other situations a worker might face on the job to better prepare students for work.

CyberMINE is one of the most advanced simulators on the market, said Peter Larsen, vice-president of exploration for Sandvik.

"No other simulator has this sophistication of the underground environment," he said.

It took two and a half years and $750,000 to develop CyberMINE, but it's an investment that's expected to pay off big for companies like De Beers, which will use the system for Snap Lake, Larsen said.

It will help develop a skilled workforce while protecting students and equipment from incidents that could result in injury or damage.

Another benefit is being able to put a coach in the simulator with the student, something that wouldn't be safe to do in the cab of an actual vehicle.

"He can stop, turn to the teacher, say, 'Am I doing this right?'" explained Larsen.

One other major benefit is that the simulator crosses cultural barriers, said Cathie Bolstad, spokesperson for De Beers Canada.

"It breaks down the literacy barrier. English as a second language employees have another opportunity to learn new skills without focusing directly on their literacy issues," said Bolstad.