Structural Geology of Rockslide Scarps Analyzed in Virtual Modelling Environments

Abstract

Geological structures, such as bedding, faults, folds, joints and fractures often contribute to decreased stability of rock slopes according to their strike and dip with respect to the general orientation of the main slope. Additionally, a rock slope may undergo many forms of gravitational displacement-induced (e.g. toppling), erosional (e.g. river undercutting) and/or weathering-induced destabilization. A variety of deep-seated very large (with a volume of > 107 m3) rock slope failures have been analyzed according to their structural characteristics. Studies include field surveys with structural geology measurements and image collection with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The latter were then used to construct digital twins of the rockslide sites. Structural elements were analyzed by using stereo plot tools that can also produce 3D outputs of the studied planes. In a few cases additional geophysical data were collected in the field (both on the rockslide deposits and on bedrock around the scarps). All those data were then combined within 3D geomodels of the studied sites and related 3D representations were integrated in immersive virtual environments. To some of the models also numerical analyses have been applied.