The effectiveness of protection systems toward rockfall risk mitigation

A comprehensive method for rockfall risk analysis has been recently proposed by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano within the context of European project PARAmount (imProved Accessibility, Reliability and safety of Alpine transport infrastructure related to MOUNTainous hazard in a changing climate). The procedure is especially aimed to a proper planning of effective countermeasures through a rational management of the existent. To such purpose, the process of hazard evaluation has been especially designed to accommodate the presence of protection systems located in the area interested by the analysis. The application of the procedure requires a thorough knowledge of the considered works, which includes passive and active protection systems. With reference to the passive measures, the paper presents a numerical study of falling rock protection barriers at present installed within the Province territory. The investigation addresses the actual effectiveness of these structures toward hazard mitigation. Preliminary analyses and results, concerning a carefully carried out selection of barrier types occurring on the territory are described and commented