On 26 November 2025, the Faculty of BERG at TUKE hosted an internal workshop of the WIDEX project, focused on knowledge transfer gained during the visit of two researchers at Lapland University of Applied Sciences (Lapland UAS) in Finland. The workshop aimed to present and provide hands-on training in virtual reality (VR) for students and faculty staff, simulating a mining tunnel environment.
Key Points of the Workshop
- Participants, mainly students, tested an interactive VR simulation of tunnel work, including marking drill holes, placing explosives, understanding safety procedures during blasting, and reinforcing the tunnel with shotcrete.
- The VR environment allowed movement, object interaction, and intuitive control using VR controllers.
- Audio and visual effects enhanced realism, memory retention, and understanding of work procedures.
Outcomes and Benefits
The workshop successfully combined theoretical knowledge from Lapland UAS with practical VR training, giving students and faculty a safe environment to experience tunnel operations. The results provide a solid basis for further development of VR-based training within the WIDEX project.
