All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

WVU engineer enhances mining safety with augmented reality training

WVU undergraduate student Jacob Horner (left) and masters students Amelia Echard and Paubla Gallego test augmented reality systems designed to provide safety trainings to coal miners. Augmented reality technology has been integrated into classrooms at the Statler College, where students experience mining environments through innovative virtual interfaces while contributing to research aimed at reducing miner deaths. (WVU Photo/Paige Nesbit)

To keep miners safe, a West Virginia University researcher is creating a training program that uses augmented reality headsets to prepare workers to operate around high-risk vehicles.

“Powered haulage” vehicles like dump trucks and front-end loaders account for nearly 50% of all mining-related deaths, partly because they offer such limited visibility. In response, WVU mining engineer Deniz Tuncay is enabling powered haulage operators and miners to enhance their awareness of blind spots and their ability to identify hazards with his augmented reality training technology, which will project blind spots directly onto the trainee operator’s surroundings.

The research is supported by more than $173,500 from the U.S. Department of Labor Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants Program, which honors the victims of mine disasters in Brookwood, Alabama, and Tallmansville, West Virginia, with funding for training to make mine conditions safer.

Tuncay, assistant professor at the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, said in West Virginia, specifically, powered haulage has been the top cause of fatal mining accidents for a decade.

“West Virginia has experienced an average of nearly four fatalities per year over the past 10 years, the highest rate nationally. We need a way to train operators and mine personnel in scenarios that would be dangerous or impossible to replicate in the real world,” he said.

“Augmented reality seamlessly integrates 3D digital content into real-world environments, so trainees can virtually interact with mobile equipment, observe blind spots and practice responding to hazards in a highly controlled, risk-free setting. For safety issues related to visibility, augmented reality training is ideal. It can transform safety training and operational practices — and ultimately reduce fatalities and injuries in the mining industry.”

The game “Pokémon Go” is an example of augmented reality software that inserts digital avatars into the real world as viewed through the camera of a user’s cell phone. A miner taking an augmented reality training in a classroom might put on a headset that would highlight which parts of the classroom would be in the miner’s blind spot if the miner were operating power haulage equipment, for example.

Tuncay said even though the age demographic of the mining industry is getting older, with more than half of U.S. miners now over 45, in most serious accidents caused by powered haulage, the victim has less than a year of total job experience. Augmented reality’s ability to visualize complex environments is ideal for miners like these, who are still developing situational awareness and mastering safety protocols.

“Our primary targets for the trainings are miners with low experience,” he said. “We’ll test our modules on WVU students, who will also be inexperienced operating these machines and of similar ages to early-career mine workers. We’ll also test on more experienced subjects and compare the effectiveness of our approach across the groups.”

Tuncay will develop the augmented reality simulations based on diagrams, many published by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that provide visual representations of blind areas for common surface mine equipment models like rear dump trucks, backhoe loaders, dozers, graders and excavators. He’ll also enable mine operators to generate blind-area diagrams customized for their own equipment.

Recognizing that conventional vocational trainings often fall short in high-risk settings like mining, Tuncay turned to augmented reality as a safe, effective platform for recognizing hazards and practicing responses. He said augmented reality bolsters learning and information retention by allowing trainees to actively interact with virtual environments that replicate complicated, risky conditions.

“Augmented reality’s accessibility is growing as the hardware costs drop, and it’s going to be an integral part of the future of education and training. There’s already promising evidence from industries like manufacturing that augmented and virtual reality systems boost training efficiency and safety outcomes. The benefits range from reduced training costs to improved worker retention.”

Tuncay will work with Vladislav Kecojevic, professor of mining engineering, and Amy McBrayer, teaching assistant professor, to develop the modules, which will offer not only augmented reality simulations, but video and audio narrations, quizzes, questionnaires and data analytics that track trainee progress, performance and engagement. The team will also incorporate tutorials supporting trainers who may have limited experience with the technology.

“These trainings will be tailored to the specific challenges of a number of different mining operations,” he said. “Mining Engineering at WVU has strong ties with more than 20 Appalachian mining companies, and we’ll engage with them to make sure we’re aligned with industry needs and directly addressing the root causes of these powered haulage accidents.”

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Man faces new charge related to stolen UTV from Barbour County

Travis Medina, 41, of Buckhannon, faces a new charge of receiving or transferring stolen goods after authorities found a UTV reportedly stolen from Barbour County.

River Fest returns in August with free food, live music and paddling for the whole community

River Fest will return August 23 with free food, live music, beginner kayaking, and community activities for all ages, aiming to attract 200 attendees and celebrate the Buckhannon River in memory of its founder, April Keating.

On the City of Buckhannon calendar: June 30 – July 4, 2025

Buckhannon has announced upcoming public meetings, July 4th holiday closures, a community celebration and fireworks, yard waste collection dates, and information on utility payments and city service requests available online.

Buckhannon City Council Agenda: July 3, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council has released the agenda for its upcoming meeting scheduled for July 3, 2025.

Deloris Y. Jack

Deloris Jack, 91, a homemaker and Lifetime Member of the Upshur County E.M.S., passed away June 28, 2025, leaving behind her son, sister, extended family, and a legacy of community service.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Director of Nursing earns Nurse Executive Board certification

Karla Tucker, Director of Nursing at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, has earned the prestigious Nurse Executive-Board Certified credential, reflecting her leadership and commitment to excellence in nursing practice and patient care.

WVWC’s new director of technical theatre finds passion in set design

Boyd Wolz, an experienced set designer and educator with credits in theatre, film, and television, has been appointed as West Virginia Wesleyan College’s new director of technical theatre.

Upshur County Public Library awarded $20K AARP grant to launch digital literacy classes for older adults

The Upshur County Public Library has received a $20,000 AARP grant to offer free digital literacy classes for adults 50 and older, providing computer skills training both at the library and via a mobile classroom.

Barbara Ann Dawson

Barbara Ann Dawson, 85, a longtime French Creek Elementary reading aide and active church and Eastern Star member, died June 27 at home, survived by her three sons, grandchildren, and many loved ones.