Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC)

Montana Technological University

GPS-Denied & Subterranean Testing

Headwaters Tech Hub (HTH) Testbeds offer distinct environments, including varied terrain, controlled settings, and advanced connectivity, designed to help partners test and demonstrate near-commercial products in near real-world conditions. These testbeds specialize in smart photonic sensing systems with applications in natural resource management, national defense, precision agriculture, wildfire resilience, and disaster prevention.

Where earth meets tech, UMEC is a rare, near real-world mine-like setting offering direct access to hard-to-find conditions perfect for robotics and sensor testing.

FIELD-TESTED VALUE

UMEC is a one-of-a-kind subterranean testbed designed for the development and validation of technologies in GPS-denied, physically extreme conditions. With more than 3,000 feet of underground tunnels and 150 acres of rocky surface terrain, UMEC offers a near real-world environment for testing autonomy, navigation, and sensor systems.

The site features scheduled blasts, Wi-Fi-connected tunnels, and access to critical mineral samples—providing an unmatched platform for commercial-ready robotics, mine tech, and environmental sensing solutions. From submerged tunnels to abandoned mine lands, UMEC pushes innovation where other testbeds can’t reach.

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Field Guide Key Capabilities

Testbeds for Sensor Evaluation and Demonstration

Where earth meets tech, UMEC is a rare, real-world mine setting offering direct access to hard-to-find conditions perfect for robotics and sensor testing

3,000+ Feet of Underground Mine Tunnels

Ideal environment for testing sensors, autonomy, and robotics in GPS-denied, real-world conditions.

Wet, Dry, and Submerged Tunnel Sections

Validate sensors and navigation systems across varied underground environments with different moisture levels and mineral compositions.

Wi-Fi Connectivity Throughout the Tunnels

Enables data streaming and remote monitoring even in deep, complex underground settings.

Scheduled Blasting Access

Test robustness of hardware and software during high-stress, real-world events like controlled explosions.

Access to Critical Mineral Samples & Tailing Sites

Conduct validation studies and develop mineral sensing systems using real ore bodies and tailing environments.

150 Acres of Rocky Surface Terrain

Above-ground elevation changes and mixed vegetation provide additional real-world field conditions for multi-environment systems.

Subterranean Robotics

Wi-Fi Enabled Underground Zones

Autonomy & Navigation Testing

3,000 Feet of Tunnels

Testing of Onsite Critical Mineral Feedstocks

Critical Mineral Sensing

150°F Temp Swing Range

Photogrammetry in GPS-denied conditions

Scheduled Blast Testing

Subterranean Robotics

Wi-Fi Enabled Underground Zones

Autonomy & Navigation Testing

3,000 Feet of Tunnels

Critical Mineral Sensing

Testbed Site Field Guide