Skip to content
WSP WSP
WSP WSP
  • Who we are
    We are the sum of our collective passion, vision and expertise.

    Discover our people, purpose and stories that have helped shape the organisation we are today and are inspiring the one we will become.

    Who we are
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
    • NZ Leadership Team
    • Our impact
    Corporate Responsibility
    • Communities
    • Corporate Governance
    • Diversity and Inclusion
    • Ethics and Integrity
    • Health and Safety
    • Sustainability
    Featured content
    thn-maori-hub
    Māori Business and Advisory Services

    We support and promote the benefits of Tiriti based partnerships for the benefit of…

  • What We Do
    We shape the communities of tomorrow and help society thrive.

    With an intimate sense of local realities, we look at complex problems from different angles and deliver solutions that break paradigms.


    View All

    • Sectors
    • Services
    • Projects
    What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
    • Transport
    • Earth and Environment
    • Digital
    • Energy
    • Water
    • Research
    Property and Buildings
    • Acoustics, Noise and Vibration
    • Architecture
    • Asset Management
    • Building Compliance and BWOF
    • Commercial and Mixed Use
    • Education
    • Existing Buildings
    • Green Building Design
    • Healthcare
    • Mechanical, Electrical and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
    • Property Consultancy
    • Safety, Health and Environment Consultancy Service
    • Structural Engineering
    Transport
    • Asset Management
    • Aviation
    • Bridge Design
    • Landscape and Urban Design
    • Light Rail Transit
    • Maritime
    • Rail Design
    • Road Design
    • Surveying and GIS
    • Transport Planning
    Earth and Environment
    • Contaminated Land
    • Environmental Management
    • Geotechnical and Ground Engineering
    • Landscape and Urban Design
    • Occupational Hygiene
    • Resource Management Planning
    • Sustainability and Climate Change
    Digital
    • Building Information Modelling - BIM
    • Surveying Mapping and GIS
    Energy
    • Energy Management
    • Hydrogen Energy
    • Power Generation and Distribution
    Water
    • Climate Adaption and Sustainability
    • Environmental Training Centre
    • Primary Industries
    • Stormwater and Flood Risk Management​
    • Water and Wastewater Conveyance
    • Water and Wastewater Treatment
    Research
    • Built Environment
    • Environmental Effects
    • Human Centred Design
    • Instrumentation Monitoring
    • Laboratories
    • Materials Testing and Analysis
    • Research Design
    • Resilience to Hazards
    • Socio-economic Research
    • Wind Tunnel Testing
    Featured content
    thn_Sustainable Places
    Sustainable Places

    We’re in the business of creating engaging and resilient places for people.

  • Insights
    Our experts offer compelling insights that provide new perspectives.

    Read inspiring articles that challenge the status quo by reframing current issues, sparking fresh conversations and finding new solutions.

    View all
    Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
    Featured content
    WSP and Mahi a Rongo | The Helen Clark Foundation Research

    WSP has been partnering with the Helen Clark Foundation since October 2019 to take a…

  • Careers
    What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

    With us, you can. Make your best impact with WSP, where the culture and people also make it the best work of your life.

    Find out more
    Careers
    • Job opportunities
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why join us?
  • Who we are
    • Our Story
    • Corporate Responsibility
      • Who we are
      • Accountable for Tomorrow
        • Communities
        • Corporate Governance
        • Diversity and Inclusion
        • Ethics and Integrity
        • Health and Safety
        • Sustainability
    • NZ Leadership Team
    • Our impact
  • What We Do
    • Property and Buildings
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Acoustics, Noise and Vibration
        • Architecture
        • Asset Management
        • Building Compliance and BWOF
        • Commercial and Mixed Use
        • Education
        • Existing Buildings
        • Green Building Design
        • Healthcare
        • Mechanical, Electrical and Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
        • Property Consultancy
        • Safety, Health and Environment Consultancy Service
        • Structural Engineering
    • Transport
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Asset Management
        • Aviation
        • Bridge Design
        • Landscape and Urban Design
        • Light Rail Transit
        • Maritime
        • Procurement and Contract
        • Rail Design
        • Road Design
        • Surveying and GIS
        • Transport Planning
    • Earth and Environment
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Contaminated Land
        • Environmental Management
        • Geotechnical and Ground Engineering
        • Landscape and Urban Design
        • Occupational Hygiene
        • Resource Management Planning
        • Sustainability and Climate Change
    • Digital
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Building Information Modelling - BIM
        • Surveying Mapping and GIS
    • Energy
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Energy Management
        • Hydrogen Energy
        • Power Generation and Distribution
    • Water
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Climate Adaption and Sustainability
        • Environmental Training Centre
        • Primary Industries
        • Stormwater and Flood Risk Management​
        • Water and Wastewater Conveyance
        • Water and Wastewater Treatment
        • Water Asset Management
    • Research
      • What We Do
      • Expertise at your service
        • Built Environment
        • Environmental Effects
        • Human Centred Design
        • Instrumentation Monitoring
        • Laboratories
        • Materials Testing and Analysis
        • Measurement Devices
        • Research Design
        • Resilience to Hazards
        • Socio-economic Research
        • Transport Safety
        • Wind Tunnel Testing
  • Insights
    • Climate
    • Mobility
    • Places
    • Resources
    • Society
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Job opportunities
    • Early Career
    • Experienced Professionals
    • Why join us?
Select your language and location

We are locally dedicated with international scale.

International
  • Global
    English — Français
Americas
  • Brazil
    Português
  • Canada
    English — Français
  • Chile
    Español
  • Colombia
    Español
  • Mexico
    Español
  • Panama
    Español
  • Peru
    Español
  • United States
    English
Africa
  • South Africa
    English
Asia
  • China
    中文(简体) — English
  • Hong Kong
    English
  • India
    English
  • Indonesia
    English
  • Malaysia
    English
  • Philippines
    English
  • Singapore
    English
  • South Korea
    한국어(대한민국) — English
  • Thailand
    English
Europe
  • Denmark
    Dansk
  • Finland
    Suomi
  • France
    Français
  • Germany
    Deutsch
  • Hungary
    English
  • Italy
    Italiano
  • Netherlands
    Nederlands
  • Norway
    Norsk
  • Poland
    Polski
  • Romania
    English
  • Spain
    Español
  • Sweden
    Svenska
  • Switzerland
    Deutsch — Français
  • Turkey
    Turkish
  • United Kingdom
    English
Middle East
  • Kuwait
    English
  • Oman
    English
  • Qatar
    English
  • Saudi Arabia
    English
  • United Arab Emirates
    English
Oceania
  • Australia
    English
  • New Zealand
    English
Worldwide offices
    • Investors
      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Find out more
      Investors
      • Corporate governance
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
      • Stock information
      • Shareholder information
      • Presentations and events
      Corporate governance
      • Audit committee
      • Board of directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating documents
      • Governance documents
      • Governance ethics and compensation committee
      • Mandates
      Reports and filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR+ filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock information
      • Analyst coverage
      Shareholder information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • FAQ
      Featured content
      Thn-Web-IR-2025-Q1-Results
      WSP's Q1 2025 Results

      We released our 2025 first quarter results on May 7, 2025 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit committee
          • Board of directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating documents
          • Governance documents
          • Governance ethics and compensation committee
          • Mandates
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR+ filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst coverage
      • Shareholder information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and events
    • News
    • Contact us
      We are dedicated to our local communities and driven by global talent.

      Contact us to find out how our diversified offering, world-class expertise and geographical reach can assist you in achieving your vision.

      Contact Us

      Follow us

      Contact us
      • Request a proposal
      • Send a message
      • Find an expert
      • Offices
      Featured content
      Our Offices

      With offices throughout the world, you can connect with one close to you.

    • Investors
      Discover our diverse business, financial results and strategic ambitions.

      We are committed to delivering sustainable value to our shareholders and exceptional professional services to our clients.

      Find out more
      Investors
      • Corporate governance
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
      • Stock information
      • Shareholder information
      • Presentations and events
      Corporate governance
      • Audit committee
      • Board of directors
      • Business Conduct Hotline
      • Constating documents
      • Governance documents
      • Governance ethics and compensation committee
      • Mandates
      Reports and filings
      • AIF
      • Annual
      • Information circular
      • Quarterly
      • SEDAR+ filings
      • Sustainability
      Stock information
      • Analyst coverage
      Shareholder information
      • Acquisitions
      • Dividends
      • FAQ
      Featured content
      Thn-Web-IR-2025-Q1-Results
      WSP's Q1 2025 Results

      We released our 2025 first quarter results on May 7, 2025 after market close.

    • Investors
      • Corporate governance
        • Investors
        • Corporate Governance
          • Audit committee
          • Board of directors
          • Business Conduct Hotline
          • Constating documents
          • Governance documents
          • Governance ethics and compensation committee
          • Mandates
      • Press releases
      • Reports and filings
        • Investors
        • REPORTS & FILINGS
          • AIF
          • Annual
          • Information circular
          • Quarterly
          • SEDAR+ filings
          • Sustainability
      • Stock information
        • Investors
        • Stock Information
          • Analyst coverage
      • Shareholder information
        • Investors
        • Shareholder Information
          • Acquisitions
          • Dividends
          • Drip
          • FAQ
      • Presentations and events
    • News
    • Contact us
      • Request a proposal
      • Send a message
      • Find an expert
      • Offices
042-VR-Mining-Hero

Increased Use Cases for Virtual Reality in the Mining Sector

Virtual reality has the potential to help mining companies improve planning and management during construction and commissioning, saving time and money on operations and maintenance.

042-VR-Mining-Hero

Increased Use Cases for Virtual Reality in the Mining Sector

Virtual reality has the potential to help mining companies improve planning and management during construction and commissioning, saving time and money on operations and maintenance.

  1. We are WSP
  2. Insights
  3. Increased use cases for virtual reality in the mining sector
Tuesday, 17 January 2023

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in business has been around for more than a decade, but adoption has been slow. The main reasons are a lack of awareness in the marketplace, limited applications, and the high cost of hardware. This, however, is changing rapidly.

According to Business Insider Intelligence estimates, VR hardware and software revenue will be $5.5 billion in 2023, up from a $800 million in 2018. While the tech industry may have driven the initial interest, broader adoption of VR for employee training and product development is behind these latest revenue predictions.

As businesses like Macy’s, Lowe’s, Walmart, and UPS, among others, are implementing VR programs that focus on driving sales, it is important for all industries to consider how this tool can be applied and developed to benefit their organization. Many practical applications for VR have arisen for the mining sector, with planning and project development currently being its most prevalent use.

 

Typical planning issues faced by mining companies

Mine infrastructure, including plant and process design, is complex. The very nature of mining means that sites are often remote, making them difficult for surveying teams, designers, engineers and project teams to access. Remote-site assessments often work on a Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) basis, making it expensive and difficult to coordinate access for multiple on-site teams during planning and execution. In addition, design teams are often located in different parts of the world, so coordination amongst disciplines is driving the industry towards using technology to maximize efficiency.

Underground workings and surface infrastructure are often located at a distance, adding complexity to the mix. Even though 3D models are becoming the norm for designing infrastructure, 2D drawings and plans are still used for the planning and review process, requiring a high degree of visualization skill from all parties concerned.

As technology advances and companies become more knowledgeable, the potential for VR in mining and other industries is infinite.

 

How is VR helping the planning process?

Virtual reality can help bring plans to life by using 3D computer-aided design (CAD) models, simulation techniques, and VR hardware. Through our work with clients, WSP has discovered valuable benefits of this approach. For example:

  • Design reviews can take place remotely, saving on FIFO and face-to-face meeting costs. Users can walk around a virtual site and point out things for the rest of the group to see. This makes it easier for designers to identify any hardware overlaps such as clashes between piping and steel or noting that cable trays are not being laid in the most efficient way.
  • Identifying and evaluating issues is more efficient. WSP clients have found that the ability to zoom in on equipment, access points, and walkways is invaluable for hazard and operability studies (HAZOPs), as well as constructability and maintenance reviews.

The main outcomes for clients embracing this technology is time and cost savings. This is a direct result of the reduced FIFO requirements, the ease of remote collaboration with other service teams, and the ability to identify problems virtually during the planning and design phase, rather than on-site during construction or operations.

 

What does the future look like for VR in mining?

As technology advances and companies become more knowledgeable, the potential for VR in mining and other industries is infinite.

Already, we’re seeing how end users can add individual design components to 3D models. In the future, VR systems will (hopefully) allow users to zoom in and view embedded data on items. For example, the make, model number, capacity, and maintenance schedule of a specific valve or pump could be viewed virtually. This would have an impact on the efficiency of maintenance and procurement tasks, while at the same time being tied to the 3D model.

It’s expected that the scope of embedded data will expand. Expansion of VR technologies will not only aid in planning but will also make maintenance and repairs much easier. For example, a valve expert can use a VR simulation to remotely talk through a repair with someone on site who can carry out the physical actions.

Virtual reality has the potential to help mining companies plan better, manage complications better during construction and commissioning and save time and money on operations and maintenance. There’s little doubt that artificial intelligence and machine learning will bring even more capabilities to this type of design work when they are harnessed into the VR environment.

Learn more about our digital solutions.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/virtual-reality-for-enterprise-sales-employee-training-product-2018-12

 

About the author

Sue Longo (B.S.C.E., MBA), is a Senior Principal Project Manager at WSP based in Calgary Alberta. She has 20 years of experience in domestic and international mining projects, with a focus on backfill and tailings disposal, and pipeline project management in the mining, power, and oil sand industries.


More on this subject

thn-Airport Master Planning

July 2025

Enhancing Airport Master Planning in Latin America

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Decarbonization , Mobility , Resilience , Technology
thn-Navigating-Data-Center-Resilience

May 2025 | 4:52 minutes

Navigating Data Center Resilience

United States
svg-icon Feature
Resilience , Technology , Energy Transition
mine closure, responsible mine closure, risk assessment, mine water

May 2025 | 4 minutes

Embracing responsible mine closure: In-pit disposal for South African coal mines

South Africa
svg-icon Blog
Mining
thn-Canary Wharf Station

May 2025

Removing Barriers to Develop Integrated Public Transport

Global
svg-icon Feature
Mobility , Places , Technology
Making urban mobility convenient_thumbnail

May 2025 | 4 minutes

Making Urban Mobility Convenient

svg-icon Blog
Mobility , Technology
Mine closure, rehabilitation, paste technology, mine water

May 2025 | 3 minutes

How we can rehabilitate legacy mines with proven approaches

South Africa
svg-icon Blog
Mining
thn-Efficient EHS Assessments

May 2025 | 4 minutes

Efficient EHS Assessments with a Repurposed Tool

Global
Technology
Tunnels-FFFS_article-Thumbnail

April 2025

Exploring Road Tunnel Fixed Fire Fighting Systems

Global
svg-icon Feature
Resilience , Technology
Tunnels-AI-Article-Thumbnail

April 2025

Exploring AI Impact on Tunnel Design

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Resilience , Technology
thn-From Data to Decisions AI

April 2025 | 5 Minutes

From Data to Decisions: Harnessing AI for Smarter Impact Assessments

Italy
svg-icon Blog
Technology
thn-Echoes of the Past

April 2025 | 7 MInutes

Echoes of the Past Integrating Heritage in Mine Closure Plans

Global
Mining
AAM-2-Article-Thumbnail

April 2025

Adopting Advanced Air Mobility

Global
svg-icon White Paper
Energy Transition , Mobility , Resilience , Resources , Technology

Author

Sue-Longo-HS
Sue Longo
Canada

Join our team

Related themes and tags

  • Mining (29)

  • Technology (158)


  • Mining (30)
  • Infrastructure (181)
  • Digital transformation (61)
  • Visualization (9)
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  •   Page will open in a new tab
  • Who We Are
  • Our Story
  • Future Ready
  • New Zealand Leadership
  • Global Leadership
  • Our offices
  • What We Do
  • Sectors
  • Services
  • Projects
  • Insights
  • Climate
  • Mobility
  • Places
  • Society
  • Resilience
  • Technology
  • Careers
  • Join Our Team
  • Holiday Act Remediation for Former Employee
  • Early career
  • Experienced professionals
  • Why join us?
  • Corporate
  • Sustainability
  • Health and Safety
  • Investors
  • Business Conduct Hotline
  • News
  • Corporate Governance
  • Ethics and Integrity
  • Engineer in Safety
    ©2025 WSP
    • The WSP Logo
    • Privacy Policy
    • Anti-Spam Commitment
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    ©2025 WSP
    Exiting our Website

    You are about to leave WSP.com and are being redirected to a job opportunity at Louis Berger, which has been recently acquired by WSP in the US.