Developing Slope Asset Management Tools Considering Geotechnical and Remote Sensing Data for Transportation Infrastructure

根据加拿大政府的定义，交通基础设施是一项关键的战略资产。在拟议的计划中，我们将重点放在铁路和公路走廊的管理上，这些走廊暴露在岩石斜坡（称为岩土资产（GA））的潜在危险中。随着沥青、桥梁和涵洞评估的发展，岩土资产管理（GAM）越来越多地被交通走廊管理者采用。建立了测试这些资产状况的设计技术和方法，例如路面状况指数表明，如果在关键时刻不进行维护，则质量会迅速下降。将这些概念应用于GAs是该领域的新兴研究课题。岩土工程资产，特别是边坡，由于材料的内在可变性，在很大程度上隐藏在斜坡内，并且缺乏对触发失效的重复事件的影响的具体和可靠的理解，导致材料强度和边坡状况的逐步恶化，因此对其了解较少。GAM需要了解当前的状况和风险，优先考虑维护和改善生命周期。通常使用定性评级系统来估计切坡破坏的可能性：一旦确定了破坏可能性较高的斜坡，就会进行详细的工作，更详细地评估危险，并制定缓解策略，其中可能包括监测、警告、保护或支持。未能发现即将发生的故障或实施有效的解决方案的后果是意外和破坏性的滑坡事件对交通走廊的影响。这可能导致基础设施在进行紧急维修时丧失能力，损害超出基础设施的范围，造成经济损失、伤害，在极端情况下造成死亡。在这个项目中，我们将定义岩质边坡的“类型”，代表预期的行为和条件随时间的变化。所定义的条件曲线将指导GA斜率的评估和缓解，以减少意外故障，优化支出并指导基于风险的决策。我们利用激光雷达和摄影测量技术开发的远程监测技术，将允许我们评估各种地质和边坡管理设置下的基础设施边坡行为，考虑到我们正在进行的加拿大岩石边坡工作，以及从全球斜坡收集的监测数据。从这个分析中，我们还将定义影响岩质边坡状态曲线的因素，包括工程缓解工程。使用基于游戏引擎物理的模拟工具，在岩石斜坡上进行校准，我们将评估条件曲线如何很好地代表未来的斜坡行为。这应该会导致政策的改变，鼓励机构采取前瞻性的方式进行资产管理。该计划将培养1PDF， 3PhD， 5MASc和4UG学生。

Transportation infrastructure is a critical strategic asset as defined by the Government of Canada. In the proposed program, we are focused on the management of railway and highway corridors exposed to potential hazards originating from rock slopes - termed Geotechnical Assets (GA). Geotechnical Asset Management (GAM) is increasingly being adopted by managers of transportation corridors, with development in the evaluation of asphalt, bridges and culverts. Design techniques and methods for testing the condition of these assets are established, for example the Pavement Condition Index demonstrates a rapid decline in quality if maintenance is not done at a critical time. Applying these concepts to GAs is the emerging research topic in this field. Geotechnical Assets, in particular slopes, are less well understood due to the inherent variability in the materials which are largely hidden from view within the slope, and the lack of specific and reliable understanding of the influence of repeated events that trigger failures, leading to progressive deterioration in the material strength and slope condition. GAM is required to understand present condition and risk, prioritize maintenance and improve the life cycle. The potential for cut slope failure is often estimated using qualitative rating systems: where higher failure probability slopes are identified, detailed work is done to assess the hazard in more detail and to devise mitigation strategies, which may include monitoring, warning, protection or support. The consequence of failing to detect impending failure or  implement effective solutions, is the impact of unexpected and damaging landslide events on the transportation corridor. This may lead to loss of infrastructure capacity while emergency repairs are made, damage that extends beyond the infrastructure, financial loss, injury and in extreme cases, fatalities. In this project, we will define rock slope "types", representative of expected change in behaviour and condition over time. The condition curves defined will guide evaluation and mitigation of the GA slopes, in order to reduce unexpected failures, optimise expenditures and guide risk based decision making. Using the remote monitoring techniques we have developed using LiDAR and photogrammetry will permit us to evaluate infrastructure slope behaviour in a variety of geological and slope management settings, considering our ongoing work on rock slopes in Canada and monitoring data collected from slopes worldwide. From this analysis, we will also define the factors that influence rock slope condition curves, including engineering mitigation works. Using game engine physics based simulation tools, calibrated on rock slopes, we will assess how well the condition curves represent future slope behaviour. This should lead to a change in policy that encourages agencies to take a forward looking approach to asset management.  The proposed program will train 1PDF, 3PhD, 5MASc and 4UG students.