Toward the assessment of the rockfall sources hazard failure using 3D point clouds and remote sensing techniques

This study examines the role of advanced remote sensing technologies, such as LiDAR, SfM, GB-InSAR, and thermal imaging, in enhancing rockfall hazard assessment. These tools have revolutionized the analysis of rock structures, allowing for detailed characterization and quantification of rockfall frequency and volume, essential for accurate hazard evaluation. The paper acknowledges challenges in current hazard assessments. It discusses the use of temporal probability calculations for known rockfall sources and the importance of understanding rock mass degradation mechanisms. Techniques like high-resolution 3D tracking are highlighted for capturing cyclic deformations and hysteresis effects, influenced by environmental factors. The study also explores the evolving efforts in characterizing discontinuity sets from 3D point clouds and the application of the rock mass structure scale extract from GSI for estimating power-law parameters. Overall, the paper provides an overview of remote sensing in rockfall destabilization studies, with a special focus on the emerging field of thermal imaging.