Abstract
Stabilization projects of rock masses cannot be performed without a proper geomechanical characterization. The classical approaches, due to logistic issues, typically are not able to cover extensively the areas under study. Geo-structural analysis on point cloud from terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry from unmanned aerial vehicles are valid tools for analysis of discontinuity systems. Such methodologies provide reliable data even in complex environmental settings (active cliffs) or at inaccessible sites (excavation fronts in tunnels), offering advantages in terms of both safety of the operators and economic and time issues. We present the implementation of these techniques at a tuff cliff over the Santa Caterina beach (Campania) and at the main entrance of Castellana Caves (Apulia). In the first case study, we also perform an integration of the two techniques. Both sites are of significant tourist and economic value, and present instability conditions common to wide areas of southern Italy: namely, retrogressive evolution of active cliffs along the coast, and instability at the rims of natural and/or artificial sinkholes. The results show the reliability of the data obtained through semi-automatic methods to extract the discontinuity sets from the point clouds, and their agreement with data collected in the field through classical approaches. Advantages and drawbacks of the techniques are illustrated and discussed.
Highlights
Rock masses are typically anisotropic, due to presence of a variety of discontinuities of both primary and secondary origin
Due to the relevant socio-economical interest of the area and to site logistics, it was decided to proceed with an evaluation of the stability conditions through a geo-structural analysis on point cloud acquired with a combined approach through the use of both laser scanner and drone
The two case studies presented in this paper regard a very common situation in long stretches of the Italian coastlines and in wide areas of the country where underground voids are present, of both natural or artificial origin
Summary
Rock masses are typically anisotropic, due to presence of a variety of discontinuities of both primary (bedding planes) and secondary (joints, faults) origin They present significant variations in the geotechnical and mechanical properties, in reference to their time-dependent behavior. Choice of the sites was dictated by two common situations in southern Italy, that is instability problems along high sea cliffs and the possibility of failures from natural or artificial sinkholes This latter case, in detail, was selected to highlight the importance of high-resolution analysis and studies in carbonate rock masses, and the need to include in the analysis the role played by karst processes, which very often is underestimated or neglected. After introductory sections describing the techniques and the instruments used, the two case studies are presented, before reaching the conclusions where our considerations about pros and cons of the techniques are illustrated
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