Regresar

Teaching rock mechanics using Virtual Reality: Laboratory practices and field trips during the confinement of the Coronavirus COVID-19 in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Spain

Abstract:

Virtual Reality (VR) consists of creating spaces similar to reality where the viewer interacts more or less in a digital world. This digital world can be programmed so that geosciences student takes data as if it were a field trip. The VR can save money, logistical problems and avoid accessing unsafe places. Besides, students can access places that would otherwise require a veritable expedition (hydroelectric projects in the Andes, remote highways, dams, tunnels in the Himalayas, among others.). At the beginning of the project in 2019, we designed some virtual rock mechanics classes to complement the face-to-face classes: In recent years, we have seen it increasingly difficult to organize field trips. We have designed virtualscenarios where students can obtain geomechanical data from tunnels, mines and rock slopes. We have used the CoSpaces commercial platform for this purpose. Within this virtual world, we place photographs, pop-up menus, videos of field and laboratory tests and clues for the student to search the data for himself in a quasi-real scenario. With all this data from the virtual scenario (as if they were in the field trip), students interpret in the cabinet and perform complex calculations (Hoek Brown, Barton-Bandis criteria, RMR, Q index, among others). We have generated two types of virtual classes: laboratory practices and field trips. Since mid-March of this year 2020, there is no face-to-face teaching in many world faculties whererock mechanics, rock slope engineering, tunnels, and underground mining subjects need to be taught. Thanks to these Virtual Reality laboratories, we have been able to carry out our teaching successfully. Combining two means: VR and software, have allowed making classes very practical and realistic, and the students have highly valued this initiative. Besides, rock mechanics plays a very important role in the safety of underground works and excavations. The best way to learn methodologiesin risky environments is undoubtedly using simulators. In the same way that pilotsand astronauts practice stress situations in simulators, we consider it useful to use Virtual Reality and simulators to learn how to map rock mechanics and stability in mines and tunnels. It is an advance in security and quality training.