Applications of virtual and mixed reality in rock engineering

Recent advances in remote sensing and numerical modelling techniques provide big-data sets, demanding new approaches to both interpretation and visualization. Laser scanning and digital photogrammetry techniques provide high-resolution 3D datasets that can be used for slope and underground rock mass characterization. The data obtained can be used as input in rock engineering design using advanced, 2D and 3D numerical analysis. In order to enhance interpretation of such highly detailed 3D datasets, virtual and mixed reality, VR/MR systems may be employed, providing the user with an immersive and enhanced engineering experience. In this paper we present an innovative approach to the analysis of rock engineering data that takes advantage of mixed reality geovisualization techniques. We then apply this approach to selected rock engineering case studies including rock slopes/landslides and tunnels. We demonstrate through examples that VR/MR techniques can be used improve all stages of a rock engineering investigation and at a wide variety of scales.