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Observation of Rockfall in the Thermal Infrared.

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Title: Observation of Rockfall in the Thermal Infrared.
Authors: Wellman, Edward C.1 (AUTHOR) ecwellman@arizona.edu, Schafer, Kirk W.1 (AUTHOR) kirkschafer@arizona.edu, Williams, Chad P.1 (AUTHOR) cpwilliams@arizona.edu, Ojum, Greatness H.1 (AUTHOR) ghojum@arizona.edu, Potter, Julia J.1 (AUTHOR) juliajpotter@arizona.edu, Brown, Leonard D.1 (AUTHOR) ldbrown@arizona.edu, Meyer, Benjamin1 (AUTHOR) benjaminmeyer@arizona.edu, Ross, Bradley J.1 (AUTHOR) bjr@arizona.edu, Kemeny, John1 (AUTHOR) kemeny@arizona.edu
Source: Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering. Jun2026, Vol. 59 Issue 6, p6027-6047. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Infrared imaging, *Rockslides, *Slope stability, *Applied sciences
Abstract: Rockfalls pose a significant risk to personnel and equipment in open pit mines, yet there is currently no widely adopted tool for the detection and real-time monitoring of these hazards. This paper explores the use of thermal infrared cameras to observe, detect, and record rockfall events in surface mining operations, with the aim of protecting mine workers from the dangers of rockfalls. The primary objective is to determine the effectiveness of thermal cameras in detecting rockfalls in a range of environmental conditions. A mobile monitoring platform (MMP) was developed and equipped with a variety of long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal imaging systems, including both scientific and security-grade cameras. Data have since been collected from nine open pit mining operations across the western United States and southern British Columbia, Canada. Six thermal cameras have been deployed and determined effective in detecting rockfall across a temperature range from − 27 °C to 52 °C. Research findings confirm the utility of thermal infrared imagers in rockfall detection throughout the diurnal cycle (24 h/day), enhancing situational awareness for miners and the potential for integration into geotechnical slope monitoring systems. It was also observed that falling blocks smaller than camera pixel resolution can be detected from thermal video due to temperature/emissivity changes resulting from scours, craters, and dust plumes made by the blocks as they descended slopes. This paper demonstrates LWIR thermal cameras' practical applications and limitations for rockfall detection in various geologic and climate conditions, provides recommendations for collecting and analyzing rockfall-related thermal imaging data, and outlines a path forward for the development of rockfall detection algorithms. Highlights: Long-wave thermal infrared cameras can be utilized for rockfall detection applications under a wide range of conditions. Thermal infrared cameras have 24-hour monitoring capability and can detect and record rockfall events day or night. Thermal cameras can detect rockfalls smaller than the cameras pixel resolution by the thermal signature of rockfall events. Thermal cameras were integrated on a mobile monitoring platform and can be integrated with other slope monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 195093713
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Observation of Rockfall in the Thermal Infrared.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wellman%2C+Edward+C%2E%22">Wellman, Edward C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ecwellman@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schafer%2C+Kirk+W%2E%22">Schafer, Kirk W.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> kirkschafer@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Williams%2C+Chad+P%2E%22">Williams, Chad P.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> cpwilliams@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ojum%2C+Greatness+H%2E%22">Ojum, Greatness H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ghojum@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Potter%2C+Julia+J%2E%22">Potter, Julia J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> juliajpotter@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brown%2C+Leonard+D%2E%22">Brown, Leonard D.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> ldbrown@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meyer%2C+Benjamin%22">Meyer, Benjamin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> benjaminmeyer@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ross%2C+Bradley+J%2E%22">Ross, Bradley J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> bjr@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kemeny%2C+John%22">Kemeny, John</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> kemeny@arizona.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Rock+Mechanics+%26+Rock+Engineering%22">Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 59 Issue 6, p6027-6047. 21p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrared+imaging%22">Infrared imaging</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rockslides%22">Rockslides</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Slope+stability%22">Slope stability</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Applied+sciences%22">Applied sciences</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Rockfalls pose a significant risk to personnel and equipment in open pit mines, yet there is currently no widely adopted tool for the detection and real-time monitoring of these hazards. This paper explores the use of thermal infrared cameras to observe, detect, and record rockfall events in surface mining operations, with the aim of protecting mine workers from the dangers of rockfalls. The primary objective is to determine the effectiveness of thermal cameras in detecting rockfalls in a range of environmental conditions. A mobile monitoring platform (MMP) was developed and equipped with a variety of long-wave infrared (LWIR) thermal imaging systems, including both scientific and security-grade cameras. Data have since been collected from nine open pit mining operations across the western United States and southern British Columbia, Canada. Six thermal cameras have been deployed and determined effective in detecting rockfall across a temperature range from − 27 °C to 52 °C. Research findings confirm the utility of thermal infrared imagers in rockfall detection throughout the diurnal cycle (24 h/day), enhancing situational awareness for miners and the potential for integration into geotechnical slope monitoring systems. It was also observed that falling blocks smaller than camera pixel resolution can be detected from thermal video due to temperature/emissivity changes resulting from scours, craters, and dust plumes made by the blocks as they descended slopes. This paper demonstrates LWIR thermal cameras' practical applications and limitations for rockfall detection in various geologic and climate conditions, provides recommendations for collecting and analyzing rockfall-related thermal imaging data, and outlines a path forward for the development of rockfall detection algorithms. Highlights: Long-wave thermal infrared cameras can be utilized for rockfall detection applications under a wide range of conditions. Thermal infrared cameras have 24-hour monitoring capability and can detect and record rockfall events day or night. Thermal cameras can detect rockfalls smaller than the cameras pixel resolution by the thermal signature of rockfall events. Thermal cameras were integrated on a mobile monitoring platform and can be integrated with other slope monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=195093713
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        Value: 10.1007/s00603-024-04254-1
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 6027
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Infrared imaging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rockslides
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Slope stability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Applied sciences
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Observation of Rockfall in the Thermal Infrared.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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