ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the factors leading to rock falls, outlines methods of hazard assessment and examines commonly used approaches to minimize the damage from the disaster. Rock fall is a natural disaster that causes significant economic loss to local communities through blocking transportation routes and slowing traffic. Rock fall hazard assessment is a complex process which aims at identifying sites with a high probability of rock fall occurrence. Regular site surveys help to identify slopes with a high probability of rock fall. During such visits, rock fall characteristics of each slope are assessed, and a rock fall hazard rating is assigned, while sites with relatively high ratings are selected for more detailed investigation. The rock fall hazard at a site near the dam where a local road is frequently blocked by rocks during a rainfall season will be assessed. There are a few rock fall protection methods, which are used to minimize the damage from the natural disaster.
