Using the Rockfall Activity Index to assess the impact of scaling on rock fall activity at Glitter Gulch, Alaska

Abstract

This research examines terrestrial-laser scan data on a road cut in the Glitter Gulch area of Alaska, immediately preceding and following a slope stabilization project, noting changes in rock fall and comparing the work done during excavation to the hazardous areas identified through the "Rockfall Activity Index (RAI) model (Dunham et al., 2017). Using the RAI for the study we may also determine its efficacy by noting if the model identified the same high hazard areas as engineers. In this report, I compare RAI predictions of future failure with on-the-ground assessments of hazard as indicated by scaling activity.