process. Engagement leads worked through established local leadership to support trust and continuity, informed by prior community experiences with infrastructure projects that had not performed as intended. Facilitated co-design workshops involving CCHS staff, technology vendors, and community representatives aligned system design, installation practices, and operational responsibilities with local governance arrangements, supporting clearer ownership and acceptance. Capability development was embedded within the co-design framework. Papua New Guinea based contractors were engaged early in system planning, with targeted training and apprenticeship opportunities supporting longer term operation and maintenance. Lessons from the pilot, including simplified training materials, standardised system configurations, and early planning for spare parts supply, informed a scalable co-designed model suitable for replication across additional remote facilities. From a project delivery perspective, early co-design influenced system configuration, training scope, and maintenance planning prior to procurement. This reduced the need for post installation modification and supported clearer allocation of operational responsibilities, outcomes directly relevant to remote mining and infrastructure projects seeking to minimise rework and support reliable long-term operations. 4. TECHNOLOGY ENABLED CO-DESIGN: VR, GIS, AND IMMERSIVE FUTURES When applied selectively, digital tools can support clearer shared understanding between mining proponents and Indigenous communities, particularly during early project definition. In mining developments where decisions around layout, access, sequencing, and land disturbance carry long term consequences, the ability to visualise options before designs are fixed can materially influence outcomes. As outlined in Section 3, the use of digital tools in Indigenous engagement must be grounded in Indigenous governance, including respect for Indigenous intellectual property rights and data sovereignty. While technologies such as virtual reality, GIS, and spatial modelling can support shared understanding and earlier participation in design decisions, the cultural, spatial, and narrative information represented through these tools remains governed Indigenous knowledge. Visualisation, modelling, and data integration must occur under clear Indigenous authority to maintain trust and enable technology enabled co‑design to support informed consent and effective project delivery. Virtual Reality (VR) allows Elders and community members to experience proposed project footprints in a spatial and visual format that is not dependent on technical drawings or written documentation. By enabling users to move through proposed infrastructure locations and observe changes to the landscape, VR can support earlier identification of cultural constraints, sensitivities, and preferences, prior to land disturbance or detailed design. This capability is particularly relevant in large-scale mining projects where linear infrastructure, such as haul roads, conveyors, and pipelines, can affect extensive areas of Country. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) further extend this capability by enabling Indigenous spatial knowledge to be considered alongside engineering and environmental datasets. GIS overlays allow Traditional Owners to reference songlines, watercourses, heritage 79
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