Quantifying rock slope behaviour in terms of rockfall hazard and maintenance requirements using remote monitoring and change detection

January 7, 2026

The Geohazard Risk Management Program (GRMP), implemented by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC), aims to identify and monitor geotechnical assets, comprising natural and constructed earthworks, to develop strategies for their management, maintenance, and rehabilitation (Tappenden and Skirrow 2020). The use of photogrammetry with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) has significantly enhanced the capacity to monitor the performance of earth assets (Deane et al. 2020), facilitating the prioritization of critical zones and the optimization of resources. One such geotechnical asset is S020, a rock backslope above Highway 541, located on the southern edge of Kananaskis Country, approximately 130 km southwest of Calgary, Alberta. This paper describes the use of change detection techniques based on annual UAV surveys to enable accurate quantification of the site’s geomorphological evolution, identification of active detachment zones, and the establishment of relationships between the structural condition of the slope, environmental factors, and its resulting performance. The findings facilitate improved operational planning during high-precipitation seasons within an asset management framework.

Rodriguez, J., Grapel, C. 2025 " Quantifying rock slope behaviour in terms of rockfall hazard and maintenance requirements using remote monitoring and change detection,” in Proceedings of the GeoManitoba 2025 Conference, 21-24 September 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Canadian Geotechnical Society and Canadian Permafrost Association (CGS and CPA)