Skip to main content

Review and Advances in Methodologies for Rockfall Hazard and Risk Assessment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mountain Risks: From Prediction to Management and Governance

Abstract

This section reviews the current methodologies that are used for the assessment of the rockfall susceptibility, hazard and risk. Emphasis is given on quantitative methods although qualitative ones are also discussed. The different methodologies are presented with respect to their application scales (regional, local or site-specific). Highlight is given to recent advances, especially involving the consideration of the magnitude of the events and the intensity of the phenomena at selected locations as well as the incorporation of a quantitative vulnerability into the risk equation.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

RHV:

Rockfall Hazard Vector

RHAP:

Rockfall Hazard Assessment Procedure

QRA:

Quantitative Risk Assessment

References

  • Abbruzzese JM (2011) Improved methodology for rock fall hazard zoning at the local scale. PhD dissertation N°5082, Rock Mechanics Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL)

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbruzzese JM, Labiouse V (2010a) Comparison of two rock fall hazard mapping methodologies based on the French and Swiss guidelines. In: Proceedings of the Rock Slope Stability RSS 2010 symposium, Paris, France, 24–25 November

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbruzzese JM, Labiouse V (2010b) Challenges in achieving European-wide methodologies for rock fall hazard mapping. In: Malet JP, Glade T, Casagli N (eds) Mountain risks – bringing science to society. CERG, Strasbourg

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbruzzese JM, Labiouse V (2013) New Cadanav methodology for quantitative rock fall hazard assessment and zoning at the local scale. Landslides. doi:10.1007/s10346-013-0411-7

  • Abbruzzese JM, Sauthier C, Labiouse V (2009) Considerations on Swiss methodologies for rock fall hazard mapping based on trajectory modelling. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 9:1095–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agliardi F, Crosta GB, Frattini P (2009) Integrating rockfall risk assessment and countermeasure design by 3D modelling techniques. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 9:1059–1073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AGS (2007) Guideline for landslide susceptibility, hazard and risk zoning for land use planning. Aust Geomech Soc Aust Geomech 42(1):13–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Aleotti P, Chowdhury R (1999) Landslide hazard assessment: summary review and new perspectives. Bull Eng Geol Environ 58(1):21–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altimir J, Copons R, Amigó J, Corominas J, Torrebadella J, Vilaplana JM (2001) Zonificació del territori segons el grau de perillositat d’esllavissades al Principat d’Andorra, La Gestió dels Riscos Naturals, 1es Jornades del CRECIT (Centre de Recerca en Ciencies de la Terra), Andorra la Vella, 13–14 September 2001, pp 119–132

    Google Scholar 

  • APB Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano (2008) Sistema informativo sui rischi idrogeologici (IHR), Relazione metodologica conclusiva. Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige Ripartizione provinciale Opere idrauliche (eds), Bolzano

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell R, Glade T (2004) Quantitative risk analysis for landslides – examples from Bνldudalur, NW-Iceland. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 4(1):117–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunce CM, Cruden DM, Morgenstern NR (1997) Assessment of the hazard from rockfall on a highway. Can Geotech J 34:344–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Copons R (2007) Avaluació de la perillositat de caigudes de blocs rocosos al Solà d’Andorra la Vella. CENMAm Institut d’Estudis Andorrans (ed), 213 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Corominas J, Mavrouli O (2011a) Rockfall quantitative risk assessment. In: Stéphane L, François N (eds) Rockfall engineering. Wiley, London, pp 255–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Corominas J, Mavrouli O (2011b) Estimation quantitative du risque (QRA) pour les bâtiments induit par des éboulements rocheux : état des lieux. Journée de rencontre sur les dangers naturels 2011. Institut de Géomatique et d’Analyse du Risque, Unil Lausanne, February 17–18, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Corominas J, Moya J (2008) A review of assessing landslide frequency for hazard zoning purposes. Eng Geol 102:193–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corominas J, Copons R, Moya J, Vilaplana JM, Altimir J, Amigó J (2005) Quantitative assessment of the residual risk in a rock fall protected area. Landslides 2:343–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosta GB, Agliardi F (2003) A methodology for physically based rockfall hazard assessment. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 3:407–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desvarreux P (2002) Considérations sur le zonage en France, Lecture notes from the course ‘Université Européenne d’été sur les risques naturels 2002: glissements de terrain et instabilités de falaise’, Sion, September 2002

    Google Scholar 

  • Desvarreux P (2007) Problèmes posés par le zonage, Lecture notes from the course ’Université Européenne d’été 2007: éboulements, chutes de blocs – rôle de la forêt’, Courmayeur, September 2007

    Google Scholar 

  • ERM (1998) Landslides and boulder falls from natural terrain: interim risk guidelines. GEO Report No. 75

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans SG, Hungr O (1993) The assessment of rockfall hazard at the base of talus slopes. Can Geotech J 30:620–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fell R, Ho KKS, Lacasse S, Leroi E (2005) A framework for landslide risk assessment and management. In: Hungr O, Fell R, Couture R, Eberhardt E (eds) Landslide risk management. Taylor & Francis Group, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Fell R, Corominas J, Bonnard C, Cascini L, Leroi E, Savage WZ on behalf of the JTC-1 Joint Technical Committee on Landslides and Engineered Slopes (2008) Guidelines for landslide susceptibility, hazard and risk zoning for land use planning. Eng Geol 102:85–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heim A (1932) Bergsturz und Menschenleben. Beiblatt zur Vierteljahrschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zürich 77:218

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E (2007) Practical rock engineering, course notes in rock engineering at the University of Toronto. http://download.rocscience.com/hoek/pdf/Practical_Rock_Engineering.pdf

  • Hungr O (1997) Some methods of landslide hazard intensity mapping. In: Fell R, Cruden DM (eds) Proceedings of the Landslide risk workshop. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Hungr O, Evans SG, Hazzard J (1999) Magnitude and frequency of rock falls and rock slides along the main transportation corridors of southwestern British Columbia. Can Geotech J 36(2):224–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hungr O, McDougall S, Bovis M (2005) Entrainment of material by debris flows. In: Jakob M, Hungr O (eds) Debris-flow hazards and related phenomena. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Interreg IIc (2001) Prévention des mouvements de versants et des instabilités de falaises: confrontation des méthodes d’étude d’éboulements rocheux dans l’arc Alpin, Interreg Communauté européenne

    Google Scholar 

  • IUGS (1997) Quantitative risk assessment for slopes and landslides – the state-of-the-art. In: Cruden D, Fell R (eds) Landslide risk assessment. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaboyedoff M, Labiouse V (2002) Etablissement d’une méthodologie de mise en œuvre des cartes de dangers naturels du Canton de Vaud Cadanav – Méthodologie instabilités rocheuses, Rapport pour le Canton de Vaud. LMR – EPFL, Lausanne

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaboyedoff M, Labiouse V (2003) Preliminary assessment of rockfall hazard based on GIS data. ISRM 2003–Technology roadmap for rock mechanics. South Afr Inst Min Metall 1:575–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaboyedoff M, Labiouse V (2011) Technical note: preliminary estimation of rockfall runout zones. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 11:819–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaboyedoff M, Dudt JP, Labiouse V (2005) An attempt to refine rockfall hazard zoning based on the kinetic energy, frequency and fragmentation degree. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 5:621–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labiouse V, Abbruzzese JM (2011) Rockfall hazard zoning for land use planning. In: Stéphane Lambert, François Nicot (eds) Rockfall engineering. Wiley/ISTE ltd, New York/London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lan H, Derek Martin C, Lim HC (2007) RockFall analyst: a GIS extension for three-dimensional and spatially distributed rockfall hazard modeling. Comput Geosci 33:262–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC) (2004) Les études spécifiques d’aléa lié aux éboulements rocheux – Guide technique, Collection Environment: Les Risques Naturels, 86 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Li ZH, Huang HW, Xue YD, Yin J (2009) Risk assessment of rockfall hazards on highways. Georisk 3(3):147–154

    Google Scholar 

  • MATE/METL (1999) Plans de Prévention des Risques Naturels (PPR), Risques de Mouvements de Terrain, Guide Méthodologique. La Documentation Française (ed).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mavrouli O, Corominas J (2010a) Vulnerability of simple reinforced concrete buildings in front of the rockfall impact. Landslides 7:169–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mavrouli O, Corominas J (2010b) Rockfall vulnerability assessment for reinforced concrete buildings. Nat Hazard Earth Syst 10(10):2055–2066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzoccola D, Hudson J (1996) A comprehensive method of rock mass characterization for indicating natural slope instability. Q J Eng Geol Hydroge 29:37–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzoccola D, Sciesa E (2000) Implementation and comparison of different methods for rock fall hazard assessment in the Italian Alps. In: 8th international symposium on landslides, Cardiff, UK, pp 1035–1040

    Google Scholar 

  • Mölk M, Poisel R, Weilbold J, Angerer H (2008) Rockfall rating systems: is there a comprehensive method for hazard zoning in populated areas? In: Proceedings of the 11th INTERPRAEVENT 2008 congress, vol 2, 26–30 May 2008, Dornbirn (Vorarlberg), Austria

    Google Scholar 

  • MR (Mountain Risks Research Training Network). Glossary: http://www.unicaen.fr/mountainrisks/spip/spip.php?page = presentation_article&id_article = 51#1. Accessed 15 Sept 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • OFAT/OFEE/OFEFP (1997) Prise en compte des dangers dus aux mouvements de terrain dans le cadre des activités de l’aménagement du territoire, edited by OFAT/OFEE/OFEFP (1997), Bern. http://www.planat.ch/ressources/planat_product_fr_1032.pdf

  • Pantelidis L (2011) A critical review of highway slope instability risk assessment systems. Bull Eng Geol Environ 70:395–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierson LA, Van Vickle R (1993) Rockfall hazard rating system. Publication No. FHWA SA-93-057

    Google Scholar 

  • Raetzo H, Lateltin O, Bollinger D, Tripet JP (2002) Hazard assessment in Switzerland – codes of practice for mass movements. Bull Eng Geol Environ 61:263–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Remondo J, Bonachea J, Cendrero A (2005) A statistical approach to landslide risk modelling at basin scale: from landslide susceptibility to quantitative risk assessment. Landslides 2:321–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberds W (2005) Estimating temporal and spatial variability and vulnerability. In: Eberthardt E, Hungr O, Fell R, Couture R (eds) Landslide risk management. Taylor & Francis, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rouiller JD, Jaboyedoff M, Marro C, Phillippossian F, Mamin M (1998) Pentes instables dans le Pennique valaisan, Rapport final PNR 31, VDF (ed), Zürich

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruff M, Rohn J (2008) Susceptibility analysis for slides and rockfall: an example from the Northern Calcareous Alps (Vorarlberg, Austria). Environ Geol 55:441–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki Y, Dobrev N, Wakizaka Y (2002) The detailed hazard map of road slopes in Japan. In: Instability – planning and management, Thomas Telford, London, pp 381–388

    Google Scholar 

  • van Westen CJ (2010) GIS for the assessment of risk from geomorphological hazards. In: Alcantara-Ayala I, Goudie A (eds) Geomorphological hazards and disaster prevention. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wieczorek GF, Jager S (1996) Triggering mechanisms and depositional rates of in the Yosemite Valley, California. Geomorphology 5:17–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olga-Christina Mavrouli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mavrouli, OC., Abbruzzese, J., Corominas, J., Labiouse, V. (2014). Review and Advances in Methodologies for Rockfall Hazard and Risk Assessment. In: Van Asch, T., Corominas, J., Greiving, S., Malet, JP., Sterlacchini, S. (eds) Mountain Risks: From Prediction to Management and Governance. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, vol 34. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6769-0_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics