Comparing Rock Discontinuity Measurements Using Geological Compass, Smartphone Application, and Laser Scanning Methods
Nicholas Jerome Farny · Environmental and Engineering Geoscience · 2017
Research Article| May 01, 2017 Comparing Rock Discontinuity Measurements Using Geological Compass, Smartphone Application, and Laser Scanning Methods Nicholas J. Farny Nicholas J. Farny [email protected] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Nicholas J. Farny [email protected] Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 15 Nov 2017 Online Issn: 1558-9161 Print Issn: 1078-7275 © 2017 Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2017) 23 (2): 97–112. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.23.2.97 Article history First Online: 15 Nov 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Nicholas J. Farny; Comparing Rock Discontinuity Measurements Using Geological Compass, Smartphone Application, and Laser Scanning Methods. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2017;; 23 (2): 97–112. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.23.2.97 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract To determine the stability of rock slopes, discontinuity orientations must be measured accurately. Several methods exist for taking field measurements of discontinuity orientations. The objective of this study was to compare the traditional method of hand measuring discontinuity orientations using a Brunton compass to the more modern methods of measuring discontinuities using smartphone applications and ground-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) laser scanning. The field site is a rock outcrop along Stroubles Road on Price Mountain, in Montgomery County, VA. The Price Mountain structure is a doubly plunging anticline exposed in a window in the Pulaski Thrust Sheet. The rock outcrop consists of a Mississippian sandstone mapped as the Upper Price Formation. The site features a set of bedding planes that dip steeply into the cut slope face, yielding toppling failures. In addition, two distinct sets of joints exist, creating both planar and wedge failures in the cut slope. Using window mapping, discontinuity orientations were measured along 200 ft (61 m) of outcrop using a Brunton compass, a smartphone application, and a laser scan. These measurements were compared using stereonet analyses to determine the relative accuracy of the different methods. The results show a strong agreement between measurements taken with the Brunton compass and the smartphone application. However, the laser scan shows that scanner data need calibration with field measurements and observations to yield equally good results. Remote-sensing methods using laser scanning, such as terrestrial photogrammetry, cannot be used completely independent of traditional field characterization and input from experienced professionals. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.