S042 Rock Slope: Use of remote sensing with rock slope rating systems for Geotechnical Asset Management

ABSTRACT: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) is currently working towards the development of a formalized geotechnical asset management (GAM) program and can benefit from research conducted to link the results of rockfall geohazard condition assessment tools with performance monitoring techniques via remote sensing and the subsequent change detection analyses. Integrating the use of remote sensing technologies with condition assessment tools may provide transportation agencies with an additional monitoring method to aid in prioritizing capital expenditure on geohazard sites. This paper presents Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) change detection results for a rockfall geohazard site located near Canmore, Alberta, along with the results of five different rock slope and rock mass rating systems applied to the slope. The results presented in this paper provide a preliminary assessment of how established rock mass characterization tools can incorporate, and benefit, from performance monitoring through remote sensing. The findings will enhance TEC’s GAM progress by standardizing the integration of initial condition assessment tools with performance monitoring for rock slopes through remote sensing in a practicable and repeatable manner.