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Mapping and characterization of rock discontinuities in a tunnel using 3D terrestrial laser scanning

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Abstract

This paper attempts to evaluate various methods of geometrical discontinuity characterization using point clouds that are generated with three-dimensional terrestrial laser scanning (3DTLS) in a tunnel. The use of 3DTLS to support discontinuity mapping in tunnels enables the acquisition of a large amount of data without limitations in terms of the tunnel position (wall or roof). Thus, the discontinuity orientation, trace length and frequency were statistically analyzed in different regions of the tunnel to determine the most representative data. Different methods of estimating the mean trace length were compared while considering the variations in the rock face orientation in the tunnel, and the unbiased standard deviation of the trace length was evaluated. The frequencies of discontinuity sets were obtained using scanlines, and aspects of window sampling for density (areal frequency) estimates in tunnels are discussed. The mean trace lengths obtained using rectangular sampling windows (considering the relative frequency of the traces) are more suitable for estimates of different rock face orientations, particularly when the orientation of the discontinuity set varies significantly. In this case, measurements of samples from the tunnel roof presented higher values for both frequency and mean trace length estimates, which demonstrates the importance of data acquisition and evaluation in this region.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the company VALE SA and the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) for the logistical and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geotechnical Engineering Department, Polytechnical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, travessa 3 no 380, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-010, Brazil

    Pedro Pazzoto Cacciari & Marcos Massao Futai

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  1. Pedro Pazzoto Cacciari
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  2. Marcos Massao Futai
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Correspondence to Pedro Pazzoto Cacciari.

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Cacciari, P.P., Futai, M.M. Mapping and characterization of rock discontinuities in a tunnel using 3D terrestrial laser scanning. Bull Eng Geol Environ 75, 223–237 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0748-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-015-0748-3

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