Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Terrestrial Photogrammetry and Numerical Modelling for the Stability Analysis of Rock Slopes in High Mountain Areas: Aiguilles Marbrées case

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several high-altitude slope instability phenomena, involving rock blocks of different volumes, have been observed in recent years. The increase in these phenomena could be correlated to climatic variations and to a general increase in temperature that has induced both ice melting with consequent water seepage and glacial lowering, with a consequent loss of support of the rock face. The degradation of the high-altitude thermal layer, which is known as “permafrost”, can determine the formation of highly fractured rock slopes where instabilities can concentrate. The present research has developed a methodology to improve the understanding and assessment of rock slope stability conditions in high mountain environments where access is difficult. The observed instabilities are controlled by the presence of discontinuities that can determine block detachments. Consequently, a detailed survey of the rock faces is necessary, both in terms of topography and geological structure, and in order to locate the discontinuities on the slope to obtain a better geometric reconstruction and subsequent stability analysis of the blocky rock mass. Photogrammetric surveys performed at different times allow the geostructure of the rock mass to be determined and the rock block volumes and detachment mechanisms to be estimated, in order to assess the stability conditions and potential triggering mechanisms. Photogrammetric surveys facilitate both the characterisation of the rock mass and the monitoring of slope instabilities over time. The methodology has been applied in a case study pertaining to the North Face of Aiguilles Marbrées in the Mont Blanc massif, which suffers from frequent instability phenomena. A slope failure that occurred in 2007 has been back-analysed using both the limit equilibrium method (LEM) and 3D distinct element modelling (DEM). The method has been supported and validated with traditional in situ surveys and measurements of the discontinuity orientation and other rock mass features.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen SK, Gruber S, Owens IF (2009) Exploring steep bedrock permafrost and its relationship with recent slope failures in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Permafrost Periglac Proc 20(4):345–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barla G, Dutto F, Mortara G (2000) Brenva glacier rock avalanche of 18 January 1997 on the Mount Blanc range, northwest Italy. Landslide News 13:2–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton NR (1972) A model study of rock-joint deformation. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 9(5):579–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CENSI_CRO (2009) Censimento dei crolli in roccia in alta quota. Relazione tecnica finale of Ing. Michèle Curtaz (in Italian)

  • Davies MCR, Hamza O, Harris C (2001) The effect of rise in mean annual temperature on the stability of rock slopes containing ice-filled discontinuities. Permafrost Periglac Proc 12(1):137–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deline P (2001) Recent Brenva rock avalanches (Valley of Aosta): new chapter in an old story? Suppl Geogr Fis Dinam Quat Suppl 5:55–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Dramis F, Govi M, Guglielmin M, Mortara G (1995) Mountain permafrost and slope instability in the Italian Alps: the Val Pola landslide. Permafrost Periglac Proc 6(1):73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutto F, Mortara G (1991) Grandi frane storiche con percorso su ghiacciaio in Valle d’Aosta. Rev Valdotaine Hist Nat 45:21–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero AM, Umili G (2011) Estimating the intensity of rock discontinuities on the base of non contact survey: application to Aiguille du Marbrée (Mont Blanc). Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48(8):1262–1270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero AM, Segalini A, Giani GP (2010) Stability analysis of historic underground quarries. Comput Geotech 37(4):476–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero AM, Migliazza M, Roncella R, Segalini A (2011a) Rock cliffs hazard analysis based on remote geostructural surveys: the Campione del Garda case study (Lake Garda, Northern Italy). Geomorphology 125(4):457–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrero AM, Migliazza M, Roncella R, Rabbi E (2011b) Rock slopes risk assessment based on advanced geostructural survey techniques. Landslide 8(2):221–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forlani G, Pinto L (2007) GPS-assisted adjustment of terrestrial blocks. In: Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Mobile Mapping Technology (MMT’07), Padova, Italy, May 2007, pp 29–31 (maggio 2007, ISSN 1682-1777, CD-ROM)

  • Giani GP (1992) Rock slope stability analysis. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Gigli G, Casagli N (2011) Semi-automatic extraction of rock mass structural data from high resolution LIDAR point clouds. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 48(2):187–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber S, Haeberli W (2007) Permafrost in steep bedrock slopes and its temperature-related destabilization following climate change. J Geophys Res F: Earth Surf 112(2): F02S18. doi:10.1029/2006JF000547

  • Grün A (1985) Adaptive least squares correlation: a powerful image matching technique. S Afr J Photogramm Remote Sens Cartogr 14(3):175–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Grün A, Baltsavias EP (1988) Geometrically constrained multiphoto matching. PERS 54(5):663–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Günzel FK (2009) Shear strength of ice-filled rock joints. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Permafrost, Fairbanks, Alaska, June/July 2008

  • Haeberli W, Huggel C, Kääb A, Polkvoj A, Zotikov I, Osokin N (2003) Permafrost conditions in the starting zone of the Kolka-Karmadon rock/ice slide of 20 September 2002 in North Ossetia (Russian Caucasus). Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Permafrost, Zurich, Switzerland, July 2003. International Permafrost Association, Zurich

  • Hallet B, Walder JS, Stubbs CW (1991) Weathering by segregation ice growth in microcracks at sustained subzero temperatures: verification from an experimental study using acoustic emissions. Permafrost Periglac Proc 2(4):283–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E, Carranza-Torres CT, Corkum B (2002) Hoek–Brown failure criterion—2002 edition. In: Proceedings of the 5th North American Rock Mechanics Symposium, Toronto, Canada, July 2002, pp 267–273

  • Huggel C (2009) Recent extreme slope failures in glacial environments: effects of thermal perturbation. Quaternary Sci Rev 28(11–12):1119–1130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Itasca (2012) 3DEC reference manual. Itasca, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Jaboyedoff M, Couture R, Locat P (2009) Structural analysis of Turtle Mountain (Alberta) using digital elevation model: toward a progressive failure. Geomorphology 103(1):5–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kemeny J, Monte J, Handy J, Thiam S (2003) The use of digital imaging and laser scanning technologies in rock engineering. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Fusion Technology of Geosystem Engineering, Rock Engineering and Geophysical Exploration, Seoul, Korea, 18–19 November 2003

  • Matsuoka N, Sakai H (1999) Rockfall activity from an alpine cliff during thawing periods. Geomorphology 28(3–4):309–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murton JB, Coutard J-P, Lautridou J-P, Ozouf J-C, Robinson DA, Williams RBG (2001) Physical modelling of bedrock brecciation by ice segregation in permafrost. Permafrost Periglac Proc 12(3):255–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noetzli J, Hoelzle M, Haeberli W (2003) Mountain permafrost and recent Alpine rock-fall events: a GIS-based approach to determine critical factors. Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Permafrost, Zurich, Switzerland, July 2003. International Permafrost Association, Zurich

  • Palmström A, Singh R (2001) The deformation modulus of rock masses—comparisons between in situ tests and indirect estimates. Tunn Undergr Space Tech 16(2):115–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravanel L, Deline P (2011) Climate influence on rockfalls in high-Alpine steep rockwalls: the north side of the Aiguilles de Chamonix (Mont Blanc massif) since the end of the ‘Little Ice Age’. Holocene 21(2):357–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid TR, Harrison JP (2000) A semi-automated methodology for discontinuity trace detection in digital images of rock mass exposures. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 37(7):1073–1089

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryzhkin IA, Petrenko VF (1997) Physical mechanisms responsible for ice adhesion. J Phys Chem B 101(32):6267–6270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rocscience Inc. (2009) DIPS, Toronto, Canada

  • Rocscience Inc. (2007) RocData 4.0 guide. Toronto, Canada

  • Roncella R, Forlani G, Remondino F (2005) Photogrammetry for geological applications: automatic retrieval of discontinuity orientation in rock slopes. In: Videometrics IX—Electronic Imaging—IS&T/SPIE 17th Annual Symposium, San Jose, California, January 2005, pp 17–27

  • Sturzenegger M, Stead D (2009a) Quantifying discontinuity orientation and persistence on high mountain rock slopes and large landslides using terrestrial remote sensing techniques. Nat Hazards Earth System Sci 9(2):267–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturzenegger M, Stead D (2009b) Close-range terrestrial digital photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning for discontinuity characterization on rock cuts. Eng Geol 106(3–4):163–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suter S (2002) Cold firn and ice in the Monte Rosa and Mont Blanc areas: spatial occurrence, surface energy balance and climatic evidence. Ph.D. thesis, Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie, ETH Zürich, Switzerland

  • Umili G, Ferrero A, Einstein HH (2013) A new method for automatic discontinuity traces sampling on rock mass 3D model. Comput Geosci 51:182–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent C, Le Meur E, Six D, Funk M, Hoelzle M, Preunkert S (2007) Very high-elevation Mont Blanc glaciated areas not affected by the 20th century climate change. J Geophys Res D Atmospheres 112(D9):D09120

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work was a part of the “CENSI_CRO Monitoraggio dei crolli in roccia in alta quota” project financed by the “Assessorato dei lavori pubblici e protezione del suolo e delle acque” of the Autonomous Aosta Valley Region and thanks to a research scholarship financed by the European Social Fund. The authors would also like to thank Dr. M. Vagliasindi for his constant support in all the phases of the work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Montagna Sicura, Loc. Villard de la Palud 1, 11013, Courmayeur (AO), Italy

    M. Curtaz

  2. Department of Civil, Environmental and Territory Engineering (DICATeA), University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 181/a, 43124, Parma, PR, Italy

    R. Roncella, A. Segalini & G. Umili

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Turin, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10100, Turin, Italy

    A. M. Ferrero

Authors
  1. M. Curtaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. M. Ferrero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Roncella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Segalini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Umili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Segalini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Curtaz, M., Ferrero, A.M., Roncella, R. et al. Terrestrial Photogrammetry and Numerical Modelling for the Stability Analysis of Rock Slopes in High Mountain Areas: Aiguilles Marbrées case. Rock Mech Rock Eng 47, 605–620 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0446-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-013-0446-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation