The S020 Rockfall Geohazard: Combining Change Detection Results and Condition Assessment Tools to Advance Geotechnical Asset Management

September 26, 2024

The S020 rockfall geohazard site is part of Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC’s) Geohazard Risk Management Program (GRMP) and is located on Highway 541, west of Longview, Alberta. Change detection analysis was conducted for the S020 site, in conjunction with change detection results for two other sites, to develop a methodology for combining the results of remote sensing technologies with condition assessment tools, such as the Rockfall Hazard Rating Systems (RHRS) and TEC’s GRMP Risk Level rating system. The resulting methodology can be applied to assist transportation agencies with prioritizing resource allocation for rockfall geohazards, in terms of slope maintenance requirements and measured rockfall frequencies. The results presented in this paper can serve to improve decision making when allocating limited resources to maintenance or mitigation measures as part of a Geotechnical Asset Management (GAM) program.

Wollenberg-Barron, T., C. Grapel, R. Macciotta and K. Tappenden. 2024. “The S020 Rockfall Geohazard – Combining Change Detection Results and Condition Assessment Tools to Advance Geotechnical Asset Management,” in Proceedings of GeoMontreal 2024. Resilient Geosciences for Future Generations, 15-18 September 2024, Montreal, QC.