With the evolution of mining technology, wireless mesh networks using low-power, long-range
technologies such as LoRa are increasingly utilised in underground mining operations. Efficient
deployment of wireless nodes in such mesh networks necessitates understanding radio wave
propagation behaviour in underground mines. While existing propagation models either remain
theoretical or apply only to basic geometric shapes, we propose a practical approach to analyse
radio wave propagation behaviour in underground mines using ray tracing simulations with
reconstructed 3D models of targeted environments. Our method validated using a set of corridors
as a substitute for underground mine environments, involves constructing a 3D model using
SolidWorks from LiDAR scans of the environment and performing wireless transmission simulations
using the MATLAB ray tracing toolkit. Our simulation model is also fine-tuned by calibrating the
raytracing parameters based on real-world LoRa transmission experiments in the actual environment
corresponding to the 3D model. This method offers a practical solution for optimising wireless node
placement in underground mines, facilitating efficient network deployment while reducing the need
for extensive physical testing of radio wave transmissions.