Application of a long-range Terrestrial Laser Scanner to a detailed rockfall study at Vall de Nuria (Eastern Pyrenees, Spain)

In this study we show the application of a long-range Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) to a detailed rockfall study in a test zone at Vall de Nuria, located in the Eastern Pyrenees. Data acquisition was carried out using TLS-Ilris3D, the new generation of reflector-less laser scanners with a high range, accuracy and velocity of measurements. Eight scans were performed at 3 stations to acquire coordinates of almost 4 million points. The results from the acquired data are a high accuracy Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and the reconstruction of the joint geometry. The former is used for inventory of rockfalls and for more accurate rockfall simulation (trajectories and velocities). The latter allows us to model the geometry and volume of the source area in recent rockfalls. Our findings suggest that TLS technology could be a tool of reference in rockfall studies in the near future. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.