{"title":"A new framework for automated extraction of in-situ dangerous rock blocks based on a semi-deterministic block theory","authors":"Yangli Zhou, Haiying Fu, Mingzhe Zhou, Yanyan Zhao, Jihuan Chen","doi":"10.1007/s10064-025-04107-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Numerous dangerous rock blocks are located on rock slopes, potentially threatening the construction and safety operation of the adjacent engineering facilities. The dangerous rock block identification has been realized for decades in rock mechanics and engineering. However, studies on the automated identification of in-situ dangerous rock blocks (ISDRBs) are limited. In this study, a novel framework is proposed for automated extraction of ISDRBs based on a new semi-deterministic block theory considering discontinuity geometric characteristics. It involves four main steps: (1) establishment of the slope point cloud model using an unmanned aerial vehicle multi-angle photography method; (2) automated identification and information extraction of discontinuities based on various algorithms; (3) identification and geometrical characterization of in-situ rock blocks (ISRBs) based on the improved block candidates searching algorithm and polyhedral modeling; (4) stability analysis of ISRBs to extract ISDRBs based on the semi-deterministic block theory. In this framework, the actual positions, geometric characteristics, and safety factors of ISDRBs can be well-reflected, providing a quantitative reference for rockfall disaster prevention and mitigation design. The framework is applied to the stability analysis of the steep rocky slope on the left bank of the Nujiang (NJ) Bridge. The analysis results indicate that, after considering discontinuity geometric characteristics, 52.6% of the ISDRBs cannot form. Ultimately, 45 ISDRBs are identified, predominantly tetrahedron in geometry, and their volumes range from 0.02 to 32.57 <span>\\(\\:{\\text{m}}^{\\text{3}}\\)</span>, with the majority being smaller than 5 <span>\\(\\:{\\text{m}}^{\\text{3}}\\)</span>. A convenient and feasible evaluation method based on ISDRB information is finally proposed to further discuss the blocky rock mass system stability. In conclusion, automated extraction of ISDRBs can provide accurate quantitative references for rockfall disaster prevention and mitigation design.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":500,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","volume":"84 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10064-025-04107-3","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Numerous dangerous rock blocks are located on rock slopes, potentially threatening the construction and safety operation of the adjacent engineering facilities. The dangerous rock block identification has been realized for decades in rock mechanics and engineering. However, studies on the automated identification of in-situ dangerous rock blocks (ISDRBs) are limited. In this study, a novel framework is proposed for automated extraction of ISDRBs based on a new semi-deterministic block theory considering discontinuity geometric characteristics. It involves four main steps: (1) establishment of the slope point cloud model using an unmanned aerial vehicle multi-angle photography method; (2) automated identification and information extraction of discontinuities based on various algorithms; (3) identification and geometrical characterization of in-situ rock blocks (ISRBs) based on the improved block candidates searching algorithm and polyhedral modeling; (4) stability analysis of ISRBs to extract ISDRBs based on the semi-deterministic block theory. In this framework, the actual positions, geometric characteristics, and safety factors of ISDRBs can be well-reflected, providing a quantitative reference for rockfall disaster prevention and mitigation design. The framework is applied to the stability analysis of the steep rocky slope on the left bank of the Nujiang (NJ) Bridge. The analysis results indicate that, after considering discontinuity geometric characteristics, 52.6% of the ISDRBs cannot form. Ultimately, 45 ISDRBs are identified, predominantly tetrahedron in geometry, and their volumes range from 0.02 to 32.57 \(\:{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}\), with the majority being smaller than 5 \(\:{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}\). A convenient and feasible evaluation method based on ISDRB information is finally proposed to further discuss the blocky rock mass system stability. In conclusion, automated extraction of ISDRBs can provide accurate quantitative references for rockfall disaster prevention and mitigation design.
岩质边坡上分布着大量危险岩块，对相邻工程设施的施工和安全运行构成潜在威胁。危险岩块识别在岩石力学和工程领域已经实现了几十年。然而，对原位危岩块体的自动识别研究还很有限。本文提出了一种基于半确定性块理论的isdrb自动提取框架，该框架考虑了非连续性几何特征。主要包括四个步骤：(1)利用无人机多角度摄影方法建立斜坡点云模型；(2)基于各种算法的不连续面自动识别与信息提取；(3)基于改进候选块体搜索算法和多面体建模的原位岩块识别与几何表征；(4)基于半确定性块体理论的isdrb稳定性分析，提取isdrb。该框架能较好地反映isdrb的实际位置、几何特征和安全系数，为岩崩防灾减灾设计提供定量参考。将该框架应用于怒江大桥左岸陡岩质边坡的稳定性分析。分析结果表明，考虑不连续几何特征后，52.6% of the ISDRBs cannot form. Ultimately, 45 ISDRBs are identified, predominantly tetrahedron in geometry, and their volumes range from 0.02 to 32.57 \(\:{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}\), with the majority being smaller than 5 \(\:{\text{m}}^{\text{3}}\). A convenient and feasible evaluation method based on ISDRB information is finally proposed to further discuss the blocky rock mass system stability. In conclusion, automated extraction of ISDRBs can provide accurate quantitative references for rockfall disaster prevention and mitigation design.
期刊介绍：
Engineering geology is defined in the statutes of the IAEG as the science devoted to the investigation, study and solution of engineering and environmental problems which may arise as the result of the interaction between geology and the works or activities of man, as well as of the prediction of and development of measures for the prevention or remediation of geological hazards. Engineering geology embraces:
• the applications/implications of the geomorphology, structural geology, and hydrogeological conditions of geological formations;
• the characterisation of the mineralogical, physico-geomechanical, chemical and hydraulic properties of all earth materials involved in construction, resource recovery and environmental change;
• the assessment of the mechanical and hydrological behaviour of soil and rock masses;
• the prediction of changes to the above properties with time;
• the determination of the parameters to be considered in the stability analysis of engineering works and earth masses.
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