Immersive Technologies supervisor simulators: safety and productivity notes for mines
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Immersive Technologies is deploying simulator-based training programmes to help mines cope with acute supervisor shortages as veteran foremen retire and less-experienced operators are promoted early. Its solutions use high-fidelity equipment simulators and scenario-based modules to build decision-making, crew leadership, and shift management skills for haul truck, shovel, and drill supervisors in a controlled environment. Operators can rehearse responses to production bottlenecks, near-miss incidents, and equipment downtime events, allowing sites to standardise supervisory competence and reduce on-the-job learning risk.
Technical Brief
- Immersive Technologies configures mine-specific pit layouts, traffic rules and operating procedures within its simulator environments.
- Training content is customised per fleet type and OEM, aligning controls and instrumentation with site equipment.
- Scenario logic incorporates site fatigue rules, radio protocols and lock-out/tag-out steps for interventions.
- Performance metrics include rule violations, response times and adherence to site operating envelopes, logged per trainee.
- Data outputs integrate with existing site training records, supporting competency sign-off and refresher scheduling.
- Simulated events can be sequenced to mirror a site’s actual shift plan and production constraints.
- Mines are using the system to standardise supervisory behaviours across multiple pits and contractor workforces.
- Wider adoption suggests simulator-based supervisory training is becoming a formal element of mine safety management systems.
Our Take
Within the 1326 tag-matched pieces on Projects/Product/Safety, relatively few focus on supervisor capability gaps, so this Immersive Technologies item points to a niche use of simulation beyond operator training into frontline leadership support.
In our database of 677 Mining stories, most safety-tagged technology coverage centres on collision avoidance and fatigue monitoring hardware, suggesting Immersive Technologies is positioning software-based training as a complementary, lower-capex lever for risk reduction when mines cannot add headcount.
For mines struggling with supervisor shortages, simulation products like those from Immersive Technologies can allow rapid scenario-based coaching across multiple sites, which is strategically useful for large operators trying to standardise safety culture without relocating scarce experienced staff.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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