Preliminary analysis of failure characteristics and evolution of the Zongling collapse group

The Zongling collapse group of Guizhou Province, located in southwestern China, is characterized by ‘frequent damaging slope failures’ that threaten the surrounding area. Its geological and topographical features are both typical and representative of southwestern China. Based on high-resolution imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles and field investigations, this study identifies the deformation characteristics of three collapse failure modes: shearing, toppling and falling. Furthermore, it proposes the evolutionary mechanisms of high and steep rock slope failures. The paper demonstrates the benefits of the combination of unmanned aerial vehicles and field inspection in establishing failure mechanisms.