ABSTRACT
In mountainous terrain, infrastructure such as highways, railways, and power generation facilities, as well as houses and apartment buildings, may be subject to rock fall hazards. These hazards can result in economic losses due to service interruptions, equipment damage, and loss of life. Rock fall hazards are particularly severe in areas with heavy precipitation, frequent freeze-thaw cycles, and seismic events (TRB, 1996). These climatic conditions exist, for example, in the Alps, on the West Coast of North America, and in Japan. In contrast, in Hong Kong, where temperatures are more mild but intense rainfall events occur, rock fall risks can also be severe because of the high population density (Chau et al., 2003).
