Mining Project: Computational Research

Research Summary

The NIOSH Mining Program  relies on computer development capability to translate its science and technology in ways that can be readily used by the mining industry and to aid NIOSH researchers in the laboratory. This program requires the development of analysis, educational, and utility software as well as effective website content delivery.

This project has seven research aims, as follows:

1. Develop computer applications to empower stakeholders with tools to solve health and safety problems.
2. Develop and implement a web content management system (CMS) that enables NIOSH Mining Program researchers to contribute to timely and impactful web content.
3. Implement evolving CDC web templates in the NIOSH Mining website (including responsive design features) and implement and continually refine the Site Browser faceted navigation tool.
4. Develop reliable computer applications for data collection and analysis in NIOSH laboratories and at field sites.
5. Create a sustainable process for generating and supporting applications for stakeholders.
6. Develop and disseminate mobile applications and web content.
7. Capture performance metrics on all applications to better measure impact with stakeholders and identify ways to improve those applications.

Coming Soon!

Noise Mapper 1.0. A new mobile app designed to survey and display noise levels over large areas.

Under this project, support is provided for programming tools and expertise needed for computational research across the NIOSH Mining Program. Computational tools and techniques are applied to advance the understanding and mitigation of mining health and safety problems. This is achieved through the initiation of research projects, developing PC- , mobile- , or web-based software for the mining industry or to be used internally by researchers to assist them in conducting their research more efficiently. When distributed to the mining public, this software takes the form of training packages, engineering/design tools, analysis tools, and utilities. Internal programs are developed as part of a project’s research process to solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Major outputs from this research project include: a new version of the EVADE (Enhanced Video Analysis of Dust Exposures) software, which allows for a generic and generalized plotting of any type of logged data against a video recording; ErgoMine, an ergonomics audit tool designed specifically for mining; FAST, a tool to quickly measure silica exposure in the field; EXAMiner, a new tool to practice hazard recognition skills; Safety Pays, a tool to demonstrate to industry the cost of occupational injuries; and Toolbox Talks, now made available as a mobile application to provide pre-shift safety talks for stone, sand, and gravel operations. STOP and Ground Support Factor of Safety Calculator are currently available in Beta release.

Several of these outputs reflect the Mining program's stakeholders’ increasing interest in mobile solutions to worker health and safety problems. The NIOSH Mining CMS and website have also been substantially upgraded to comply with the latest version of the CDC web template which, among other benefits, makes the website more accessible from mobile devices.

The impact of this project will be measured by tracking how often software is downloaded from the NIOSH Mining  website and the mobile application stores. Both avenues have a web metric mechanism built in to track this data. Overall traffic to the NIOSH Mining website will also be analyzed to measure the traffic to the redesigned website.