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Applied Sciences
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Integrated Approaches to Rockfall Assessment: Bridging Geology and Engineering Perspectives
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Integrated Approaches to Rockfall Assessment: Bridging Geology and Engineering Perspectives

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 1542

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pavlos Asteriou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Interests: rockfall modelling; rock slope stability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. George Papathanassiou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: geohazards; slope failures; liquefaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue aims to explore the common ground between geological and engineering approaches in rockfall assessment. Rockfall is a dynamic and complex natural phenomenon driven by geological, geomorphological, and mechanical factors. As one of the most common geohazards in mountainous regions, rockfalls are increasingly affected by climate change, resulting in more frequent and intense events.

This Special Issue will cover advancements in: (a) susceptibility, hazard, and risk frameworks incorporating temporal and spatial uncertainties; (b) identification and evaluation of triggering mechanisms, such as precipitation, earthquakes, and climate change effects; (c) trajectory modelling—from the mechanical response at impact to sophisticated physical-based engines; (d) mitigation technologies, such as rockfall barriers and early-warning systems; and (e) construction techniques and design practices.

Furthermore, the issue will highlight the role of recent technologies, such as remote sensing, LiDAR, UAV, advanced simulation methods, and AI approaches, in improving data acquisition and analysis.

An integrated approach between geologists and engineers is essential for understanding, predicting, analyzing, mitigating, and managing rockfall hazards. This Special Issue aims to foster this dialogue, enhancing knowledge to improve our ability to protect against rockfalls and form safer infrastructures and communities.

Dr. Pavlos Asteriou
Dr. George Papathanassiou
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • rockfall hazard assessment
  • susceptibility and risk modelling
  • trajectory simulation
  • rockfall mitigation measures
  • remote sensing
  • AI applications

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 3525 KB  
Article
Development of an Embedded In-Mass Inertial Device for Landslide and Rockfall Monitoring
by Mahdi Shahsavar, Amin Moniri-Morad and Javad Sattarvand
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4787; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104787 - 11 May 2026
Viewed by 215
Abstract
Early-stage landslides and rockfalls are often characterized by very small internal accelerations associated with creep and progressive deformation, which are difficult to capture using conventional surface-based displacement monitoring techniques. To address this, the study presents the design and laboratory validation of a prototype [...] Read more.
Early-stage landslides and rockfalls are often characterized by very small internal accelerations associated with creep and progressive deformation, which are difficult to capture using conventional surface-based displacement monitoring techniques. To address this, the study presents the design and laboratory validation of a prototype in-mass inertial monitoring device, referred to as a Smart Rock, intended for embedded monitoring of rock mass motion. The developed device integrates low-noise inertial measurements with on-board processing to enable real-time characterization of motion signatures within a moving mass. Two sensing configurations, including a low-noise accelerometer-only configuration and a full inertial measurement unit (IMU) configuration, were implemented to evaluate their relative performance for in-mass motion monitoring. Embedded signal processing approaches suitable for landslide motions were developed to identify quasi-static, step-change, and impact-related motion regimes. Laboratory experiments using a controlled robotic testbed generated repeatable motion scenarios representative of creep-like movement, abrupt displacement changes, and impact events. Results showed that Smart Rock resolved very low-magnitude acceleration signatures on the order of 10−5 g and distinguished these from higher-energy motion and impact events, with improved signal stability observed for IMU-based configurations. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of in-mass inertial devices for characterizing landslide and rockfall motion in geotechnical applications. These results should be interpreted as proof-of-concept laboratory validation under controlled conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Approaches to Rockfall Assessment: Bridging Geology and Engineering Perspectives)
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20 pages, 5867 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Impact Configuration on the Coefficients of Restitution of Elliptical Blocks in Rockfalls
by Pavlos Asteriou
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(6), 2896; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16062896 - 17 Mar 2026
Viewed by 313
Abstract
The influence of impact configuration and block shape on rockfall rebound behavior has been highlighted in numerous experimental studies. To further investigate these effects, an experimental campaign was conducted using rigid elliptical-disk blocks, allowing the simultaneous examination of block geometry and impact configuration [...] Read more.
The influence of impact configuration and block shape on rockfall rebound behavior has been highlighted in numerous experimental studies. To further investigate these effects, an experimental campaign was conducted using rigid elliptical-disk blocks, allowing the simultaneous examination of block geometry and impact configuration under controlled conditions. The experimental setup was inspired by existing analytical approaches that employ elliptical geometries to describe rebound mechanics and to provide a more detailed interpretation of the parameters governing impact response. The results show that coefficients of restitution exhibit substantial scatter and do not display systematic trends with respect to the geometric aspect ratio of the elliptical disks (a/b ≈ 1.25–2.0), within the testing range of this experiment. Instead, rebound behavior is primarily controlled by impact configuration, as described by the orientation of the major axis and the impact angle. The following two distinct impact types were identified: instantaneous and rolling, associated with different responses. The experimental data were further used to assess existing analytical models, revealing limited quantitative agreement due to the idealized assumptions in their formulation. Overall, the study demonstrates that rebound response in rockfall processes is strongly configuration-dependent, emphasizing the need for modeling approaches that explicitly account for impact configuration and contact geometry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Approaches to Rockfall Assessment: Bridging Geology and Engineering Perspectives)
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23 pages, 15950 KB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Large-Scale Testing and Three-Dimensional Rockfall Modeling in Assessment of Tabulated Coefficients of Restitution
by Grant Goertzen, Kinley Seabaugh and Nick Hudyma
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041775 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 430
Abstract
Rockfall hazard assessment and mitigation design relies heavily on three-dimensional trajectory modeling, in which the coefficient of restitution (COR) is a governing parameter controlling rebound, energy dissipation, and runout distance. In practice, COR values are commonly selected from generalized tables based on slope [...] Read more.
Rockfall hazard assessment and mitigation design relies heavily on three-dimensional trajectory modeling, in which the coefficient of restitution (COR) is a governing parameter controlling rebound, energy dissipation, and runout distance. In practice, COR values are commonly selected from generalized tables based on slope material type, introducing significant epistemic uncertainty and limiting predictive accuracy. This study presents a comparative evaluation of large-scale field rockfall experiments and 3-D numerical simulations conducted at a former aggregate quarry in Boise, Idaho, to assess the performance of tabulated restitution coefficients. Concrete blocks of controlled shape (spheres, cubes, and rectangular prisms) and mass (17–68 kg) were instrumented with inertial sensors and released from two slope configurations. High-resolution UAV-based LiDAR was used to reconstruct slope geometry, while dynamic cone penetrometer and friction tests were performed to characterize spatial variability in slope material stiffness. These data were incorporated into RocFall3 to simulate block trajectories using spatially varying COR values. Initial models assuming zero rotational velocity and tabulated COR ranges failed to reproduce observed runout distances, dispersion patterns, and modes of motion, particularly for non-spherical blocks. Incorporating field-measured initial rotational velocities significantly improved agreement between modeled and observed trajectories, by correcting the unrealistic sliding mode of motion previously observed. However, quantitative discrepancies in deposition and dispersion persisted, highlighting limitations associated with simplified slope geometry and the loss of small-scale surface features during LiDAR surface reconstruction. The results demonstrate that restitution behavior is strongly shape-dependent and that realistic initial conditions are essential for physically meaningful simulations. The findings underscore the need for site-specific, material-informed approaches to COR estimation and for improved integration of high-fidelity field data into physics-based rockfall models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Approaches to Rockfall Assessment: Bridging Geology and Engineering Perspectives)
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