A semi-quantitative discontinuity ranking approach to assist rock slope and foundation stability analyses

ABSTRACT: This paper describes a method for ranking discontinuity sets by their "relative significance" in rock slope and foundation stability assessments. The method considers factors such as character, pervasiveness across datasets, and geological associations with major structures or fabrics, assigning scores to each factor to produce a final overall ranking value. This scoring system enables effective comparison between discontinuity sets within a domain and is informed by data from drill core logging, mapping, and the project geological model. The method is flexible and can be applied to the suite of structural geology datasets that might be available for a specific project. This judgment-based method, rooted in geological understanding, can support more numerically intensive statistical analyses and structural geology modeling.