5
selectively targeted by the other project partners to change
their conditions to test other scenarios. Digital images
taken during fieldwork will be used to accentuate details
and colorize the point cloud, thereby providing substantial
support for the near-authentic feeling in forthcoming VR
scenarios.
The CFD-/Ventilation Model
Effective ventilation is vital for maintaining a safe and
healthy environment for workers. In order to therefore
accurately simulate the movement of air, heat exchange,
and the dispersion of gases and particles within the under-
ground laboratory a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
model was developed. The CFD model is based on the
geometrical model of the drift and the adjacent chambers,
which is derived from the acquired point clouds and their
subsequent meshing process. Besides the precise represen-
tation of the current ventilation conditions, the real-time
capabilities of this CFD model will allow to calculate and
display the effects of changing conditions within the under-
ground laboratory, e.g., changes in drift length and width.
The data generated by the CFD model could then be
used to improve ventilation strategies, ensuring the optimal
placement of ventilation fans leading to a more energy-effi-
cient underground working environment, and providing
real-time feedback and predictive insights for operational
decision-making [17].
The CFD model of the underground laboratory is
being built using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2, a compre-
hensive simulation software that is widely used for solv-
ing complex fluid dynamics problems. It is well-suited to
account for intricate geometries and multiphysic interac-
tions present in underground mines [18]. The CFD model
incorporates the geometrical model and an adaptive mesh-
ing technique to refine the mesh in areas with high curva-
ture and near tunnel walls to ensure the accurate capture of
flow dynamics [19].
The boundary conditions for the CFD simulations
are defined based on ventilation data collected from the
mine, such as airflow rates, temperatures, and the loca-
tions of air intakes and exhausts. Heat sources, including
the heat generated by machinery and workers, as well as
geothermal gradients, can also be factored into the simu-
lations. Importantly, the CFD model is capable of adap-
tion through integration of real-time data obtained from
the fiber-optic sensing cables that are to be installed within
the mine.
In addition to airflow and heat transfer, the CFD model
also simulates the movement and dispersion of harmful
gases as well as dust particles. This enables the mine opera-
tors to monitor and control air quality, ensuring that dan-
gerous levels of gases or dust are not reached. Figure 5 is
representing the pressure drop over the drift considering
the geometrical features as for example chambers. This is
an example for a simulation visualization from the under-
ground laboratory.
The development of the CFD model encounters sev-
eral challenges, particularly with respect to the complexity
of the mine’s geometry and the need for real-time data inte-
gration later on. Generating a mesh that accurately repre-
sents the drift while maintaining computational efficiency
requires advanced techniques, such as adaptive meshing
Figure 5. Pressure simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics [Clausthal University of Technology]
selectively targeted by the other project partners to change
their conditions to test other scenarios. Digital images
taken during fieldwork will be used to accentuate details
and colorize the point cloud, thereby providing substantial
support for the near-authentic feeling in forthcoming VR
scenarios.
The CFD-/Ventilation Model
Effective ventilation is vital for maintaining a safe and
healthy environment for workers. In order to therefore
accurately simulate the movement of air, heat exchange,
and the dispersion of gases and particles within the under-
ground laboratory a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
model was developed. The CFD model is based on the
geometrical model of the drift and the adjacent chambers,
which is derived from the acquired point clouds and their
subsequent meshing process. Besides the precise represen-
tation of the current ventilation conditions, the real-time
capabilities of this CFD model will allow to calculate and
display the effects of changing conditions within the under-
ground laboratory, e.g., changes in drift length and width.
The data generated by the CFD model could then be
used to improve ventilation strategies, ensuring the optimal
placement of ventilation fans leading to a more energy-effi-
cient underground working environment, and providing
real-time feedback and predictive insights for operational
decision-making [17].
The CFD model of the underground laboratory is
being built using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2, a compre-
hensive simulation software that is widely used for solv-
ing complex fluid dynamics problems. It is well-suited to
account for intricate geometries and multiphysic interac-
tions present in underground mines [18]. The CFD model
incorporates the geometrical model and an adaptive mesh-
ing technique to refine the mesh in areas with high curva-
ture and near tunnel walls to ensure the accurate capture of
flow dynamics [19].
The boundary conditions for the CFD simulations
are defined based on ventilation data collected from the
mine, such as airflow rates, temperatures, and the loca-
tions of air intakes and exhausts. Heat sources, including
the heat generated by machinery and workers, as well as
geothermal gradients, can also be factored into the simu-
lations. Importantly, the CFD model is capable of adap-
tion through integration of real-time data obtained from
the fiber-optic sensing cables that are to be installed within
the mine.
In addition to airflow and heat transfer, the CFD model
also simulates the movement and dispersion of harmful
gases as well as dust particles. This enables the mine opera-
tors to monitor and control air quality, ensuring that dan-
gerous levels of gases or dust are not reached. Figure 5 is
representing the pressure drop over the drift considering
the geometrical features as for example chambers. This is
an example for a simulation visualization from the under-
ground laboratory.
The development of the CFD model encounters sev-
eral challenges, particularly with respect to the complexity
of the mine’s geometry and the need for real-time data inte-
gration later on. Generating a mesh that accurately repre-
sents the drift while maintaining computational efficiency
requires advanced techniques, such as adaptive meshing
Figure 5. Pressure simulation in COMSOL Multiphysics [Clausthal University of Technology]