Abstract
The stability and deformation behavior of high rock slopes depends on many factors, including geological structures, lithology, geomorphic processes, stress distribution, and groundwater regime. A comprehensive mapping program is, therefore, required to investigate and assess the stability of high rock slopes. However, slope steepness, rockfalls and ongoing instability, difficult terrain, and other safety concerns may prevent the collection of data by means of traditional field techniques. Therefore, remote sensing methods are often critical to perform an effective investigation. In this paper, we describe the application of field and remote sensing approaches for the characterization of rock slopes at various scale and distances. Based on over 15 years of the experience gained by the Engineering Geology and Resource Geotechnics Research Group at Simon Fraser University (Vancouver, Canada), we provide a summary of the potential applications, advantages, and limitations of varied remote sensing techniques for comprehensive characterization of rock slopes. We illustrate how remote sensing methods have been critical in performing rock slope investigations. However, we observe that traditional field methods still remain indispensable to collect important intact rock and discontinuity condition data.
Highlights
Landslides are among the most destructive natural phenomena and are responsible for several hundreds of deaths every year
In the paper we review, for each site, the methods used and results obtained from traditional field characterization, and describe how knowledge of the site and instability processes progressively increased through collection and interpretation of remote sensing datasets
Various remote sensing datasets have been collected at the site, using a combination of TLS, terrestrial digital photogrammetry (TDP), high-resolution photography, infrared thermography (IRT), and hyperspectral imagery (HSI)
Summary
Landslides are among the most destructive natural phenomena and are responsible for several hundreds of deaths every year. The development and technological advancements of remote sensing techniques have allowed geological data to be effectively collected across inaccessible slopes [13] Photogrammetric techniques, such as terrestrial digital photogrammetry (TDP) and structure-from-motion (SfM), are routinely used to perform rock mass characterization [13,14,15] and geomorphic mapping [16]. Airborne and terrestrial laser scanning (ALS and TLS) provide 3D point clouds that can be employed to map geological structures [17] and monitor displacements [18] Infrared techniques, such as infrared thermography (IRT) and hyperspectral imagery (HSI), have been introduced to investigate seepage and rock slope mineralogy, respectively [19,20]. To complement traditional mapping techniques, various remote sensing techniques were used for the characterization of the rock slopes, including high-resolution photography and digital photogrammetric methods (TDP and SfM), ALS and TLS, IRT, and HSI. A brief overview of each method and the survey equipment employed is provided
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
