Development of an early-warning time-of-failure analysis methodology for open-pit mine slopes utilizing ground-based slope stability radar monitoring data

The recent introduction of ground-based slope stability radar in open-pit mines to complement conventional geodetic monitoring programs provides near real-time deformation measurements over a broad coverage area; this allows geotechnical engineers to observe the spatial distribution of pit wall movements and their progression over time. This paper presents a newly proposed early warning time-of-failure (TOF) analysis procedure for use in real-time with ground-based radar measurements designed to be integrated in an open-pit mine’s trigger action response plan (TARP). The inverse-velocity and slope gradient (SLO) TOF analysis methods are applied to radar displacement measurements using a new systematic multi-pixel selection technique termed the “percent deformation method.” The utilization of the percent deformation method in the proposed real-time TOF analysis methodology gives more-reliable results than current practice by providing recommendations for pixel selections, data filtering, where and how to undertake TOF analyses, and presenting TOF results in real time. The addition of a more rigorous, methodical treatment of radar monitoring data when faced with critical slope instability will reduce uncertainty and increase confidence in any trigger action response decisions, helping to ensure a safer work environment.