Application of Remote Sensing Data for Evaluation of Rockfall Potential within a Quarry Slope

Robiati Robiati,Venn Venn,Coggan Coggan,Eyre Eyre,Francioni Francioni,Vanneschi Vanneschi

doi:10.3390/ijgi8090367

Abstract

In recent years data acquisition from remote sensing has become readily available to the quarry sector. This study demonstrates how such data may be used to evaluate and back analyse rockfall potential of a legacy slope in a blocky rock mass. Use of data obtained from several aerial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and photogrammetric campaigns taken over a number of years (2011 to date) provides evidence for potential rockfall evolution from a slope within an active quarry operation in Cornwall, UK. Further investigation, through analysis of point cloud data obtained from terrestrial laser scanning, was undertaken to characterise the orientation of discontinuities present within the rock slope. Aerial and terrestrial LiDAR data were subsequently used for kinematic analysis, production of surface topography models and rockfall trajectory analyses using both 2D and 3D numerical simulations. The results of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-based 3D photogrammetric analysis enabled the reconstruction of high resolution topography, allowing one to not only determine geometrical properties of the slope surface and geo-mechanical characterisation but provide data for validation of numerical simulations. The analysis undertaken shows the effectiveness of the existing rockfall barrier, while demonstrating how photogrammetric data can be used to inform back analyses of the underlying failure mechanism and investigate potential runout.

Highlights

Rock fall during quarrying activities are among the most critical risks associated with slope instability, especially for high cuts in weathered rock [1]
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Summary

Introduction

Rock fall during quarrying activities are among the most critical risks associated with slope instability, especially for high cuts in weathered rock [1]. Legacy slopes, such as the one studied in this investigation, may be prone to rockfall, since they were created prior to the UK Quarry Regulations (1999) [2] and regular maintenance may be difficult to undertake. Rockfall is a slope process involving the detachment of rock fragments and their fall and subsequent bouncing, rolling, sliding, and deposition, where the main responsible factor for the rockfall behaviour is the slope inclination and its irregularities [3,4,5]. In natural and engineered slopes, have been under investigation since 1960s, and the results have been published by a large number of researchers; dealing with the physical basis of the process [9,10,11,12], and the hazard and risk associated with it [13,14,15,16]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion