3D Distinct Element Back Analysis Based on Rock Structure Modelling of SfM Point Clouds: The Case of the 2019 Pinglu Rockfall of Kaili, China

• Published in: Journal of earth science (Wuhan, China) Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 1568 - 1582
• Main Authors: Ye, Zhen, Xu, Qiang, Liu, Qian, Dong, Xiujun, Pu, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wuhan China University of Geosciences 01.10.2024; State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection,Chengdu University of Technology,Chengdu 610059,China%Institute of Applied Geosciences,Graz University of Technology,Graz 8010,Austria
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Engineering Geology; Geochemistry; Geology; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; rock structure; discontinuity sets; 3D point cloud; unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); engineering geology; karst; unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)
• ISSN: 1674-487X; 1867-111X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12583-022-1667-4

This paper introduces the use of point cloud processing for extracting 3D rock structure and the 3DEC-related reconstruction of slope failure, based on a case study of the 2019 Pinglu rockfall. The basic processing procedure involves: (1) computing the point normal for HSV-rendering of point cloud; (2) automatically clustering the discontinuity sets; (3) extracting the set-based point clouds; (4) estimating of set-based mean orientation, spacing, and persistence; (5) identifying the block-forming arrays of discontinuity sets for the assessment of stability. The effectiveness of our rock structure processing has been proved by 3D distinct element back analysis. The results show that SfM modelling and rock structure computing provides enormous cost, time and safety incentives in standard engineering practice.