Rock mass characterization for slope/catch bench design using 3D laser and digital imaging

Slope stability designs are largely dependent on rock mass and more specifically discontinuity characterization. Traditional discontinuity characterization methods (scanline and cell mapping) have many problems associated with time, safety, accuracy, and human bias. This study shows how 3D imaging using ground based LiDAR scans and digital photography can be used to collect discontinuity information for slope stability analysis. 3D imaging allows for potentially larger data sets to be collected rapidly while eliminating or highly limiting the problems with traditional methods. Rock mass information for a benched road cut was gathered using traditional and 3D imaging methods. A set of NIOSH slope stability programs were then compared to two other commercial programs using the two different data sets gathered. 3D imaging was used to create an "as built" of a benched road cut. This image was used to test the accuracy of the three slope programs. The comparison between programs resulted in similar conclusions despite which data set was used. All slope modeling programs results contained slight inaccuracy when compared to the actual slope.