In this research article, we propose a practical methodology for evaluating the affecting potential of detachment areas in rockfalls. Our innovative approach combines an assessment of the visibility of rockfall source areas, with reference to specific rockfall scenarios and elements at risk, considering the rockfall Susceptibility Index to Failure (SIF) of these areas. The result is the characterization of source areas through a rockfall Source Affecting Index (SAI), which considers both the morphology of the slope and the geostructural conditions of the rock walls. This information can be very useful since it aids in optimizing more in-depth analyses, as well as the placement of monitoring instruments or stabilization systems. The proposed methodology has been implemented in the open-source software QGIS through the development of an easy-to-use plugin named Ranking of the Affecting Potential of Detachment Areas in Rockfalls, or “RADAR”. RADAR is designed to be used in conjunction with QPROTO, a well-known QGIS plugin for preliminary rockfall susceptibility/hazard analyses based on a visibility analysis and a simplified mechanical method. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, an application to a case study located in the Western Alps (Bardonecchia, Italy) is presented and discussed in the paper.

A Novel Approach to Assess the Influence of Rockfall Source Areas: The Case Study of Bardonecchia (Italy) / Milan, Lorenzo; Napoli, MARIA LIA; Barbero, Monica; Castelli, Marta. - In: GEOSCIENCES. - ISSN 2076-3263. - ELETTRONICO. - 13:12(2023), pp. 1-14. [10.3390/geosciences13120386]

A Novel Approach to Assess the Influence of Rockfall Source Areas: The Case Study of Bardonecchia (Italy)

Lorenzo, Milan;Maria Lia, Napoli;Monica, Barbero;Marta, Castelli
2023

Abstract

In this research article, we propose a practical methodology for evaluating the affecting potential of detachment areas in rockfalls. Our innovative approach combines an assessment of the visibility of rockfall source areas, with reference to specific rockfall scenarios and elements at risk, considering the rockfall Susceptibility Index to Failure (SIF) of these areas. The result is the characterization of source areas through a rockfall Source Affecting Index (SAI), which considers both the morphology of the slope and the geostructural conditions of the rock walls. This information can be very useful since it aids in optimizing more in-depth analyses, as well as the placement of monitoring instruments or stabilization systems. The proposed methodology has been implemented in the open-source software QGIS through the development of an easy-to-use plugin named Ranking of the Affecting Potential of Detachment Areas in Rockfalls, or “RADAR”. RADAR is designed to be used in conjunction with QPROTO, a well-known QGIS plugin for preliminary rockfall susceptibility/hazard analyses based on a visibility analysis and a simplified mechanical method. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, an application to a case study located in the Western Alps (Bardonecchia, Italy) is presented and discussed in the paper.
2023
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
A Novel Approach to Assess the Influence of Rockfall Source Areas_ The Case Study of Bardonecchia (Italy).pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: 2a Post-print versione editoriale / Version of Record
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.92 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.92 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2984543