NEW PUBLICATION

ROCKFALL
CHARACTERIZATION AND CONTROL
A. Keith Turner and Robert L. Schuster, Editors

A rockslide in October 2009 closed Interstate 40 in North Carolina for nearly six months.
(Photograph: North Carolina Department of Transportation)

R ockfall is an important, ongoing socioeconomic

issue at many locations worldwide. Accelerated
development accompanying population growth, with
The Transportation Research Board (TRB)
therefore has developed and published an extensively
researched book, Rockfall: Characterization
the associated increased demands for energy, mining, and Control, devoted to all aspects of rockfall
forestry, agricultural, and recreational activities, characterization, analysis, and mitigation.
has caused communities and civil infrastructure
to expand onto marginal lands, where evaluations BOOK CONTENTS
of potential rockfall hazards and appropriate Developed over five years by a TRB task force, the
countermeasures are often difficult. At many locations book comprises 18 chapters authored by a dozen
on major transportation routes, the degradation internationally recognized rockfall experts. The book
of rock exposures constructed 30 to 40 years ago addresses the state of knowledge about rockfall, the
has increased rockfall-induced traffic disruptions, available procedures for rockfall investigation, and the
accidents, and injuries. regulatory and economic climates affecting rockfall
Demands for improved rockfall evaluation investigations and corrective actions. The book
and mitigation have encouraged adoption of new includes a DVD with video clips of rockfall field tests
technologies to support new approaches to the and several historical movies documenting rockfall
evaluation and quantification of rockfall hazards field activities.
and to the provision of protection from rockfalls.
Information about these technologies, however, is not
widely available.
Part 1: Recognition of Rockfall Hazard
Five chapters cover topics related to the identification
and evaluation of rockfall hazards:

Chapter 1, Introduction, by A. K. Turner and G.

P. Jayaprakash, provides an historical overview to
rockfall research and examples of significant rockfall
events.
Chapter 2, Rockfall Types and Causes, by J. D.
Higgins and R. Andrew, reviews rockfall failure types
and mechanisms, summarizing and referencing more
extensive sources.
Chapter 3, by L. A. Pierson, introduces the
principles of the Rockfall Hazard Rating System
Large rockfall blocks severely damaged a bridge deck
(RHRS), developed in Oregon and supported by the on Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, closing
Federal Highway Administration since 1990. More the highway for four days and leading to extended travel
than 25 transportation agencies in North America, as restrictions. (Photograph: Colorado Department of
well as many jurisdictions throughout the world, have Transportation)
adopted the RHRS.
Several agencies have modified the RHRS to Chapter 5, Rockfall Risk Assessment and Risk
reflect specific topographic, climate, or geology Management, by A. K. Turner, describes alternative
characteristics, or to expand its evaluation of approaches to assess risks posed by rockfall hazards,
mitigation alternatives and possible economic impacts including the evaluation and quantification of rockfall
of rockfall events. Chapter 4, Implementation of hazards and risks and the selection of rockfall
Rock Slope Management Systems, by L. A. Pierson mitigation measures.
and A. K. Turner, provides details of eight systems
that have made significant adjustments to the original Part 2: Fundamentals of Rockfall Analysis
RHRS. and Investigation
Five chapters collectively define the rockfall
investigation process:

Chapter 6, Site Characterization, by R.

Andrew and J. D. Higgins, describes the rockfall
characterization process, including organization
of the investigation process and the importance of
obtaining appropriate descriptive data during field
investigations.
Chapter 7, Instrumentation and Monitoring
Technology, by R. Andrew, B. Arndt, and A. K.
Turner, discusses the range of new technologies
for measuring and monitoring rockfalls, including
photogrammetric, LiDAR, radar, and GPS surveying
systems.
Chapter 8, Evaluation of Rockfall Mechanics,
by A. K. Turner and J. D. Duffy, presents the
fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics and their use to
Railroad derailment caused by a small- describe the motions of falling, bouncing, and rolling
volume rockfall near Lytton, British rock blocks.
Columbia, Canada, January 2007. (www.
arizonarails.com/cn-derailment.html)
 Chapter 9, Modeling and Prediction of Rockfall,
by A. K. Turner and J. D. Duffy, discusses and
compares approaches for the quantitative modeling
and prediction of rockfall. These include empirical
models based on field observations that are used to
establish hazard zones, computer-based approaches
incorporating the empirical relationships, 2-D
simulation models that provide energy and bounce-
height data for designing mitigation measures, and
recently developed 3-D models that allow a full spatial
evaluation of rockfall events.
Chapter 10, Conducting Field Test Experiments,
by J. D. Duffy and A. K. Turner, provides a detailed
description of conditions affecting rockfall field tests.

Part 3: Rockfall Mitigation

Part 3 starts with an overview of rockfall mitigation
options in Chapter 11, Mitigation Selection, by L.
A. Pierson and M. P. Vierling, including definitions
of engineered versus nonengineered solutions and Walenstadt test facility, Switzerland.
discussions of criteria for selecting an option. The (Photograph: Geobrugg)
five following chapters describe the major mitigation
options:
Appendices
Appendix A offers stereographic projections for
Chapter 12, Avoidance of Rockfall Areas, by T. C.
structural analysis. Appendix B, by J. D. Duffy,
Badger and J. D. Duffy;
describes the contents of the DVD included with the
Chapter 13, Stabilization of Rockfall, by R. Andrew
book. The DVD contains digital copies of all the book
and L. A. Pierson;
illustrations, including color versions of photographs
Chapter 14, Protection, by T. C. Badger, J. D. Duffy
and some technical drawings; 29 short video clips of
and K. Schellenberg;
rockfall field tests illustrating rockfall impact energies
Chapter 15, Flexible Rockfall Fences, by J. D. Duffy
and some testing procedures; and four longer video
and T. C. Badger; and
presentations, including a copy of the historic movie
Chapter 16, Drapery Systems, by T. C. Badger and J.
of the 1963 rockfall testing procedures conducted in
D. Duffy.
Washington State.
Part 4: Rockfall Maintenance
INTENDED AUDIENCE
and Management Programs
Although the focus of the texts is on rockfall events
Chapter 17, Maintenance, Monitoring, and
along transportation facilities, most of the discussions
Response, by T. C. Badger, discusses maintenance
and examples apply to any situation requiring
or monitoring activities that may significantly reduce
rockfall characterization and control. The factors of
the risk associated with rockfall and improve public
geology, topography, and climate that interact to cause
safety.
rockfalls are the same, the methods for evaluating
Chapter 18, Rockfall Management Programs,
rockfall hazards remain the same, and the methods for
by S. M. Lowell and N. I. Norrish, discusses the
prevention or correction of rockfall hazardswithin
importance of rockfall management programs,
economic limitsremain largely independent of
drawing on the experience of the Washington State
nearby land uses.
Department of Transportation.
This volume will be useful therefore for anyone
involved in the evaluation of rockfall hazards. The text
is intended to appeal to a diverse audience, including
 Transportation engineers responsible for rockfall
investigations,
Students in geoscience and geotechnical fields
with an interest in rockfall, and
Researchers who need a definitive source for
rockfall investigation and mitigation procedures.

Many students and researchers seek comprehensive

references to the literature and discussions of case
studies, state-of-the-art techniques, and research
directions. Accordingly, considerable effort was
expended in identifying suitable literature citations and
in providing some discussion of recent developments. Multiple rockfall protection systems installed near the
References to specialized and hard-to-obtain Pen-Y-Clip tunnel on the A55 North Wales Expressway,
sources, however, were avoided as much as possible. United Kingdom. (Photograph: David Giles, University of
Portsmouth, United Kingdom)

ORDERING INFORMATION

Rockfall Characterization and Control is 658 pages

and includes a DVD with video clips of rockfalls and
field tests.

Order your copy today at www.TRB.org/Rockfall

Hardcover, ISBN 978-0-309-22306-5, $110

Paperback, ISBN 978-0-309-22312-6, $100

For additional information, send an e-mail to

TRBSales@nas.edu or visit TRBs online bookstore,
http://books.trbbookstore.org/.

Watch the TRB website, www.trb.org, and the

TRB E-Newsletter for updates.

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