ABSTRACT
Highways and railroads situated within mountainous terrains are often subject to the hazard of rockfalls. The task of assessing roadside rockmasses for potential hazards typically involves a visual investigation of the rockmass by an engineer or geologist. At that time numerous measurements associated with discontinuity orientations and spacing, block size and shape distributions, slope geometry, and ditch profile are taken or estimated. The measurements are typically tallied according to the employed hazard rating system and a hazard level is determined for the site. This methodology involves direct exposure of the engineer to the hazard; as well, it creates a biased record of the assessed slope based on the skill, knowledge and background of the engineer.
