Analysis of discontinuity data obtained with remote sensing tools to generate input for EC7 design

Remote sensing tools offer a great opportunity for performing non-contact surveys on rock masses.A great amount of data concerning rock discontinuities can be inferred from this kind of survey, allowing for statistical analyses and therefore for uncertainties evaluation. A database of reliable and representative information concerning rock discontinuities characteristics is essential for performing slope stability analyses and therefore obtaining sound input data for the design of proper protection works. However, Eurocode 7 (EC7), which is the European Standard concerning geotechnical design, does not give precise indications about the processing of remotely sensed data in order to generate input for the design of protection works. The authors propose an approach applied to a site subject to rockfall: starting from orientation and spacing data obtained from a photogrammetric survey, statistical analyses concerning kinetic energy and volume of rock blocks are performed, considering and evaluating uncertainties in each step of the process.