Applied Digital Photogrammetry to joints and rocky blocks geometrical analysis

Aim of this paper is the description of a methodology purposely developed to study brittle structures in rocky slopes for both site exploitation and stability evaluation in marble quarries by deterministic approach. This is obtained by the application of digital terrestrial photogrammetric techniques that can be used for detailed surveys, especially in hardly accessible sites. Oriented stereo images, accurate digital elevation models and orthophotos are the main deliverables that are expected from photogrammetry; then, such technique can be used as data source for studying geomechanical characteristics of the slopes. The proposed method in studying rock fall introduces innovative and meaningful elements related to the deterministic approach, for the individuation of dangerous portions, and to the three-dimensional analysis of blocks geometrical relationships with bounding joints.