Geomechanical characterization of rock masses by means of remote sensing techniques

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Loiotine ◽  
Marco La Salandra ◽  
Gioacchino Francesco Andriani ◽  
Giovanni Barracane ◽  
Marc-Henri Derron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Rock Mass ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Rock Masses ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

<p>Improving the methods for the characterization of rock masses by integrating traditional field surveys with remote sensing techniques is fundamental for practical and realistic discontinuous modelling, in order to identify the failures and kinematics, develop landslide susceptibility assessment and plan prevention and mitigation measures.</p><p>A 20 m-high cliff at Polignano a Mare (Southern Italy) was selected as case study for the presence of well-developed discontinuities (bedding and joints) and due to the local morphology, consisting of a valley with opposite slopes at a distance of 150 m, and a pocket beach at their toe. This configuration allowed to perform both traditional and remote sensing surveys. First, photogrammetry methods were carried out on the ground and with the help of a boat. Structure from Motion (SfM) technique was then used to process and combine the pictures, in order to elaborate a raw point cloud of the case study. Secondly, high resolution Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) techniques were conducted after positioning Ground Control Points (GCPs) all over the rock mass, with the aim of obtaining a more detailed point cloud. Eventually, a unique and optimized georeferenced point cloud was obtained by combining the previous models, also removing the non-geological objects. Furthermore, Infrared Thermography (IT) was carried out in order to investigate the fracture pattern, the areas of concentrated stress, and the presence of humidity and voids.</p><p>The structural analysis of the rock mass was performed directly on the point cloud, by testing procedures and algorithms for the automatic identification of discontinuity sets and of their orientation, spacing, persistence and roughness.</p><p>The next step of this research will concern the evaluation of the instability mechanisms with the help of kinematic analyses, by means of stereographic projections. Finally, the reliability of the procedure for a complete rock mass characterization, which is expected to be obtained as the final result, will be tested by means of numerical stability solutions, after calibrating the geomechanical model and importing the fracture system in an appropriate software.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Comparison of Remote Sensing Techniques for Geostructural Analysis and Cliff Monitoring in Coastal Areas of High Tourist Attraction: The Case Study of Polignano a Mare (Southern Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 5045
Author(s):  
Lidia Loiotine ◽  
Gioacchino Francesco Andriani ◽  
Michel Jaboyedoff ◽  
Mario Parise ◽  
Marc-Henri Derron
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Rock Mass ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Rock Slope ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Tourist Attraction ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Rock Mass Characterization ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

Rock slope failures in urban areas may represent a serious hazard for human life, as well as private and public property, even on the occasion of sporadic episodes. Prevention and mitigation measures indispensably require a proper rock mass characterization, which is often achieved by means of time-consuming, costly and dangerous field surveys. In the last decades, remote sensing devices such as high-resolution digital cameras, laser scanners and drones have been widely used as supplementary techniques for rock slope analysis and monitoring, especially in poorly accessible areas, or in sites of large extension. Although several methods for rock mass characterization by means of remote sensing techniques have been reported in specific studies, there are very few contributions that focused on comparing the different methods in an attempt to establish their advantages and limitations. With this study, we performed digital photogrammetry, Terrestrial Laser Scanning and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle surveys on a cliff located in a popular tourist attraction site, characterized by complex geological and geomorphological settings, as well as by disturbance elements such as vegetation and human activities. For each point cloud, we applied geostructural analysis by means of semi-automatic methods, and then compared multi-temporal acquisitions for cliff monitoring. By quantitative comparison of the results and validation by means of conventional geostructural field surveys, the pros and cons of each method were outlined in attempt to depict the conditions and goals the different techniques seem to be more suitable for.

Integration of Satellite Remote Sensing Techniques and Landscape Metrics to Characterize Land Cover Change and Dynamics

2013 ◽  
pp. 228-244
Author(s):  
Carmelo Riccardo Fichera ◽  
Giuseppe Modica ◽  
Maurizio Pollino
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Landscape Metrics ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Aerial Photos ◽  
Multi Temporal ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

One of the most relevant applications of Remote Sensing (RS) techniques is related to the analysis and the characterization of Land Cover (LC) and its change, very useful to efficiently undertake land planning and management policies. Here, a case study is described, conducted in the area of Avellino (Southern Italy) by means of RS in combination with GIS and landscape metrics. A multi-temporal dataset of RS imagery has been used: aerial photos (1954, 1974, 1990), Landsat images (MSS 1975, TM 1985 and 1993, ETM+ 2004), and digital orthophotos (1994 and 2006). To characterize the dynamics of changes during a fifty year period (1954-2004), the approach has integrated temporal trend analysis and landscape metrics, focusing on the urban-rural gradient. Aerial photos and satellite images have been classified to obtain maps of LC changes, for fixed intervals: 1954-1985 and 1985-2004. LC pattern and its change are linked to both natural and social processes, whose driving role has been clearly demonstrated in the case analysed. In fact, after the disastrous Irpinia earthquake (1980), the local specific zoning laws and urban plans have significantly addressed landscape changes.

Comparing traditional geomechanical and remote sensing techniques for rock mass characterization 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Caccia ◽  
Biagio Palma ◽  
Mario Parise
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Rock Mass Characterization ◽  
Rock Face ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Processing Techniques

<p>Analysis of the stability conditions of rock masses starts from detailed geo-structural surveys based on a systematic and quantitative description of the systems of discontinuities. Traditionally, these surveys are performed by implementing the classical geomechanical systems, available in the scientific literature since several decades, through the use of simple tools such as the geological compass to measure dip and dip direction directly on the discontinuity systems, and to fully describe their more significant physical characteristics (length, spacing, roughness, persistence, aperture, filling, termination, etc.). In several cases, this can be difficult because the discontinuities, or even the rock face, cannot be easily accessible. To have a complete survey, very often the involvement of geologists climbers is required, but in many situations this work is not easy to carry out, and in any case it does not cover the whole rock front.</p><p>Today, to solve these problems, traditional geomechanical surveying is implemented by innovative remote techniques using, individually or in combination, instruments such as terrestrial laser scanners and unmanned aerial vehicles to build a point cloud.</p><p>This latter permits to extract very accurate data on discontinuities for stability analyses, based on areal and non-point observations. In addition, the point cloud allows to map sub-vertical walls in their entirety in much shorter times than traditional surveying.</p><p>At this regard, two rock slopes were detected in the Sorrento Peninsula (Campania, southern Italy) with techniques that include traditional mapping, dictated by the guidelines of the International Society for Rock Mechanics, and the remote survey, through laser scanning and drone photogrammetry. The data obtained were processed automatically and manually through the Dips, CloudCompare and Discontinuity Set Extractor softwares.</p><p>In the present contribution we highlight the limits and advantages of the main data collection and the processing techniques, and provide an evaluation of the software packages currently available for the analysis and evaluation of discontinuities, in order to obtain a better characterization of the rock mass.</p>

Comparison of aerosol vertical profiles derived by passive and active remote sensing techniques—a case study

2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (39) ◽  
pp. 6679-6685 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Padma Kumari ◽  
A.L. Londhe ◽  
H.K. Trimbake ◽  
D.B. Jadhav
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques

Modelling of a construction pit

2021 ◽  
pp. 144-149
Author(s):  
G. G. Bickbulatova ◽  
E. N. Kupreeva
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Digital Model ◽  
Geodetic Measurement ◽  
Sensing Data

There are various programs for processing geodetic measurement and remote sensing data. This article discusses the use of Cyclone software for building a digital model of a construction pit surface based on a point cloud based on laser scanning and calculating the volume of earthworks.

Implementation of InfraRed Thermographic surveys in complex coastal areas: the case study of Polignano a Mare (southern Italy)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Loiotine ◽  
Marco La Salandra ◽  
Gioacchino Francesco Andriani ◽  
Eliana Apicella ◽  
Michel Jaboyedoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Structure From Motion ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Thermal Imager ◽  
Rock Masses ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Thermal Images ◽  
Thermal Anomalies ◽  
Rock Face

<p><em>InfraRed Thermography</em> (IRT) spread quickly during the second half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century in the military, industrial and medical fields. This technique is at present widely used in the building sector to detect structural defects and energy losses. Being a non-destructive diagnostic technique, IRT was also introduced in the Earth Sciences, especially in the volcanology and environmental fields, yet its application for geostructural surveys is of recent development. Indeed, the acquisition of thermal images on rock masses could be an efficient tool for identifying fractures and voids, thus detecting signs of potential failures.<br>Further tests of thermal cameras on rock masses could help to evaluate the applicability, advantages and limits of the IRT technology for characterizing rock masses in different geological settings.<br>We present some results of IRT surveys carried out in the coastal area of Polignano a Mare (southern Italy), and their correlation with other remote sensing techniques (i.e. <em>Terrestrial Laser Scanning</em> and <em>Structure from Motion</em>). The case study (<em>Lama Monachile</em>) is represented by a 20 m-high cliff made up of Plio-Pleistocene calcarenites overlying Cretaceous limestones. Conjugate fracture systems, karst features, folds and faults, were detected in the rock mass during field surveys. In addition, dense vegetation and anthropogenic elements, which at places modified the natural setting of the rock mass, represent relevant disturbances for the characterization of the rock mass. In this context, IRT surveys were added to the other techniques, aimed at detecting the major discontinuities and fractured zones, based on potential thermal anomalies. <br>IRT surveys were carried out in December 2020 on the east side of the rock mass at <em>Lama Monachile</em> site. Thermal images were acquired every 20 minutes for 24 hours by means of a FLIR T-660 thermal imager mounted on a fixed tripod. Ambient air temperature and relative humidity were measured during the acquisition with a pocketsize thermo-hydrometer. A reflective paper was placed at the base of the cliff to measure the reflected apparent temperature. In addition, three thermocouple sensors were fixed to the different lithologic units of the rock face. These parameters, together with the distance between the FLIR T-660 and the rock face, were used in order to calibrate the thermal imager and correct the apparent temperatures recorded by the device, during the post-processing phase. Successively, vertical profiles showing the temperature of the rock face over time were extracted from the thermograms. Thermal anomalies were correlated with stratigraphic and Geological Strength Index profiles, obtained by means of field surveys and Structure from Motion techniques. The presence of fracture and voids in the rock mass was also investigated.</p>

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