Abstract:Planning and design of underground engineerings,such as underground mines,underground powerhouses,nuclear waste repositories,subway systems,amongst others,involves a process of complex spatial n-dimensional data integration utilizing information from field exploration(geology,geophysics,geochemistry,geostatistics,groundwater,and rock mass characteristics),engineering(excavation placement,geometry,stress and strain) and operations(scheduling and costs). As new logging and monitoring technologies are being developed,the amount and complexity of data becomes overwhelming and,in the past,decisions are often made based on only a small part of the available data. Recently,Laurentian University in Canada opened a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Collaboration Laboratory(VRCL),a unique facility offering an exceptional data interpretation environment for sub-surface engineering planning and design. This facility,designed to meet the needs of the mineral exploration and mining industries,offers a team interpretation environment for earth modeling applications. The main benefit for multi-disciplinary teams is the speed with which complex subsurface models can be interpreted,explained,and evaluated. Through examples from site characterization for deep underground mines and mine planning and design,this paper demonstrates how value(project-wide data integration,improved 3D understanding,reduced engineering rework,project team collaboration) can be added to the geotechnical planning and design process of underground engineerings by utilizing this unique tool to comprehend spatial relationships of data. The paper is built on our experiences involving project-wide data integration,mine design validation,rock support planning and design,and visualization of geomechanics design criteria developed at the Geomechanics Research Center of Laurentian University in Canada. It has been proven through practical application of the VRCL technology that it is not the quantity or quality of the data,but rather the quality of the decision that is made based on the data,that renders the VRCL an invaluable resource for the industry. Recently,the first stage of a global network – Northern Advanced Visualization Network—is being built to link virtual reality centers in northern Ontario in Canada,for expertise sharing and tele-decision-making.