Slope stability monitoring in open pit mines using 3D terrestrial laser scanning

Abstract

In open pit mines the aspect of preventing and forecasting the threat of landslides and rock falls is crucial issue because of the significant consequences that instabilities may have. Systematic slope stability monitoring is necessary to ensure safe and continuous mining operations. The development of innovative technologies, such as 3D laser scanning, opens up new possibilities, especially in the case of large and hard-to-reach areas, such as open pit mines. Terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) provide fast, efficient, detailed, and accurate three-dimensional data. The article discusses the use of 3D terrestrial laser scanning method to monitor slope displacements and landslides in open pit mines. The first part of the article discusses the risk scale of gravitational displacement on the slopes, on examples of Polish open pit mines, and introduces the most common slope monitoring methods. Then, the principles of 3D terrestrial laser scanning were defined, and some examples of TLS applications in the open pit mines were presented.