Enhancement of Point Cloud Data for Rock Slope Stability Analysis
Downloads
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry offers a safe and efficient alternative to manual rock mass characterization in hazardous terrain. This study evaluates quality control measures, compares the discontinuity of accuracy data with and without Ground Control Points (GCPs), and performs kinematic a stability analysis of a sedimentary rock slope. Using a GPS-integrated drone and GNSS coordinates, a high-resolution 3D model was generated in Agisoft Metashape, and discontinuity orientations were extracted using CloudCompare. Results indicate that optimal UAV camera angles and an image overlap of 60%–80% are critical for achieving high model fidelity. Incorporating GCPs significantly improved accuracy; the mean percentage differences in dip direction decreased from 5.21%–22.01% (without GCPs) to 1.66%–10.06% (with GCPs). Comparative analysis with manual scanline surveys demonstrated strong agreement, successfully identifying stable conditions, as well as wedge and planar failures modes. These findings underscore the necessity of GCPs in UAV-based mapping for reliable kinematic rock slope assessment.
Salmanfarsi, A.F., Awang, H., and Ali, M.I., A Review on the Development of Rock Slope Stability Assessment in Malaysia, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 365(1), 2019, pp. 1-12.
Stead, D. and Wolter, A., A critical Review of Rock Slope Failure Mechanisms: The Importance of Structural Geology, Journal of Structural Geology, 74, 2015, pp. 1–23. Elsevier Ltd.
Priest, S.D. and Hudson, J.A., Estimation of Discontinuity Spacing and Trace Length using Scanline Surveys, International Journal of Rock Mechanics, Mining Sciences & Geomechanic Abstract, 18(3), 1981, pp. 183-197
Kong, D., Saroglou, C., Wu, F., Sha, P., and Li, B., Development and Application of UAV-SfM Photogrammetry for Quantitative Characterization of Rock Mass Discontinuities, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 141(3), 2021, 104729.
Tannant, D., Review of Photogrammetry-based Techniques for Characterization and Hazard Assessment of Rock Faces, International Journal of Geohazards and Environment, 1(2), 2015, pp. 76-87.
Tuckey, Z. and Paul, J., Discontinuity Survey and Brittle Fracture Characterisation in Open Pit Slopes using Photogrammetry, APSSIM 2016: Proceedings of the First Asia Pacific Slope Stability in Mining Conference, Australia Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, 2016, pp. 587-600.
Nagendran, S., Ismail, M., and Wen, Y., 2D and 3D Rock Slope Stability Assessment using Limit Equilibrium Method Incorporating Photogrammetry Technique, Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 68, 2019, pp. 133-139.
Liu, C., Liu, X., Xiao-chu, P., Wang, E., and Wang, S., Application of 3D-DDA Integrated with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle–Laser Scanner (UAV-LS) Photogrammetry for Stability Analysis of A Blocky Rock Mass Slope. Landslides, 16(9), 2019, pp. 1645-1661.
Wang, S., Zhang, Z., Wang, C., Zhu, C., and Ren, Y., Multistep Rocky Slope Stability Analysis based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photogrammetry, Environmental Earth Sciences, 78(8), 2019.
Ren, Q. and Meng, X., Study on Mechanical Response and Stability Algorithms of Soft and Hard Rock Interbedded Slope Excavation, Complexity, 2022(1), 2022.
Guo, J., Wu, Z., and Li, K., Stability Analysis of Soft–Hard-Interbedded Anti-Inclined Rock Slope, Scientific Reports, 13(1), 2023, pp. 1-14.
Li, Q., Yao, X., Li, R., Zhou, Z., Yao, C., and Ren, K., Quick Extraction of Joint Surface Attitudes and Slope Preliminary Stability Analysis: A New Method using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 3D Photogrammetry and GIS Development, Remote Sensing, 16(6), 2024, pp. 1-23.
Zheng, J., Kulatilake, P., Deng, J., and Wei, J., Development of a Probabilistic Kinematic Wedge Sliding Analysis Procedure and Application to a Rock Slope at a Hydropower Site in China, Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 75(4), 2015, pp. 1413-1428.
Yan, J., Chen, J., Li, Y., Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Zhou, X., and Wang, Z., Kinematic-based Failure Angle Analysis for Discontinuity-Controlled Rock Slope Instabilities: A Case Study of Ren Yi Peak Cluster in Fusong County, China, Natural Hazards, 111(3), 2021, pp. 2281-2296.
Martireni, A., Sugianti, K., Hermawan, K., Tohari, A., Wibawa, S., and Soebeowo, E., Rock Slope Stability Assessment using Kinematic Analysis at Gunung Batu, Lembang, West Java, Indonesia, IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 1173(1), 2023, pp. 1-8.
Dhakal, S., Panthee, S., and Acharya, D., Rock Slope Deformation Analysis of the Powerhouse Cut-Slope at Middle Bhotekoshi Hydroelectric Project in Sindhupalchok District, Central Nepal, Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 63, 2022, pp. 25-32.
Maslinda U., Nordiana, M.M., Bery, A.A., Saharudin, M.A., Hisham, H.H.B., Zakaria, M.T., Sulaiman, N., Nur Amalina, M.K.A., and Nordiana, A.N., The Implementation of 2-D Resistivity Method in Verifying Paleozoic Aquifer Properties at Bukit Chondong, Perlis (Malaysia). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 62, 2017, 012042.
Maes, W.H., Practical Guidelines for Performing UAV Mapping Flights with Snapshot Sensors, Remote Sensing, 17(4), 2025, pp. 1-38.
Kong, D., Saroglou, C., Wu, F., Sha, P., and Li, B., Development and Application of UAV-SfM Photogrammetry for Quantitative Characterization of Rock Mass Discontinuities, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 141, 2021, pp. 1-19.
Tung, W.Y., Nagendran, S.K., and Mohamad Ismail, M.A., 3D Rock Slope Data Acquisition by Photogrammetry Approach and Extraction of Geological Planes using FACET Plugin in CloudCompare, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 169(1), 2018, pp. 1-11.
ISRM (International Society for Rock Mechanics), Suggested Methods for the Quantitative Description of Discontinuities in Rock Masses. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1981, pp. 319-368.
Maes, W. H., Huete, A. R., and Steppe, K., Optimizing the Processing of UAV-based Thermal Imagery, Remote Sensing, 9(5), 2017, pp. 1-17.
Tu, Y.H., Phinn, S., Johansen, K., Robson, A., and Wu, D., Optimising Drone Flight Planning for Measuring Horticultural Tree Crop Structure, ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 160, 2020, pp. 83–96.
Ridha, M.H., Arifin, Y.F., and Abdi, A.S., Optimizing Ground Control Points for UAV Photogrammetry: A Case Study in Slope Stability Mapping, Communications in Science and Technology, 10(1), 2025, pp. 170–178.
Matheson, G.D., Rock Stability Assessment in Preliminary Site Investigations: Graphical Methods, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire, 1983, pp. 1-30.
Dewanto, B.G, Haryanto, Y., and Purnomo, S.N., Land Subsidence Potential Detection in Yogyakarta International Airport using Sentinel-1 Insar Data, Civil Engineering Dimension, 23(2), 2021, pp. 91-99.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aniza Albar, Mohd Mustaqim Mohd Nordin, Muhammad Zarith Sufi Shem Azman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain the copyright and publishing right, and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) followingthe publication of the article, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
