Montana Rockfall Slope Asset Management Program (RAMP)
Statewide, Montana
Map of Good, Fair, and Poor Condition Rock Slopes in Montana
The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) selected Landslide Technology to implement the Rockfall Hazard Rating System (RHRS). In
2015, we were again selected to develop a new system compatible with Transportation Asset Management (TAM). From this program came the Rock Slope Asset Management Program (RAMP).
The goal of the 2015 research project was to assess changes in MDT’s rock slope assets since its implementation and to gather data that would allow MDT to develop an updated rock slope hazard assessment program with TAM-compatibility as an added benefit. The research project scope included identifying rock slope condition and risk factors, determining critical sites, incorporating benefit/cost analysis, and forecasting future asset condition based on various budget scenarios. The objectives of the program were to 1) update rock slope rating criteria; 2) determine critical sites based on condition, risk, and cost/benefits using new decision support tools; 3) develop/cost benefit scenarios; and 4) evaluate compatibility of the RAMP process with MDT’s Transportation Asset Management program.
Through the completion of the project, the research team visited 391 sites to update ratings from the original RHRS research project. In addition to updating the RHRS scores, we developed and implemented condition rating criteria that suits both technical needs and high-level decision making. This was accomplished by developing a number of rating rubrics that adhere to TAM principles, including a high-level Good / Fair / Poor evaluation. Further subdividing slope condition assessments into one of five Condition States facilitates deterioration analysis, determination of probability of a road-closing rockfall event, and cost estimate development for rock slopes preservation activities. For more nuanced and technical decision making, slope evaluations based on RHRS score, Condition Index, or custom combinations of individual rating elements are available.
The project team developed online mapping platforms utilizing MDT’s existing GIS platform, ArcGIS Online. This platform significantly improves interaction with the RAMP data by moving from the previous Oracle platform into a modern, user-friendly mapping platform. The entire RAMP database resides on the online platform, with photos of each site available through both read-only public and writable internal links. Tracking and recording rockfall events and their impacts to the Department and the public is facilitated using map-based forms that are instantly available online. MDT Geotechnical personnel and select individuals can enter event and maintenance information, improving long-term risk and costs analyses. Online map series of various decision support tools, minimal acceptable conditions, and rock slope failures are available to MDT personnel via the web.
Applying accepted asset management models to the cost and deterioration estimates, Landslide Technology's research team examined various funding scenarios and how they would affect network-wide rock slope conditions over the next 10 years. The team concluded that annual funding levels of approximately $28 million will maintain current conditions. The analysis revealed that, if MDT continues its current method of funding rock slope management on a worst-first basis, approximately $35 million per year would be required to maintain current conditions. These results suggest that MDT can save $7 million per year by taking a proactive approach to prevent excessive slope deterioration. Further, the research team conducted an analysis of return for preservation investment, which showed that MDT can recoup every dollar spent on preserving rock slopes and also realize a benefit of an additional $1.14 for every dollar spent.
Full Report: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/research/projects/geotech/rockfall.shtml
2015, we were again selected to develop a new system compatible with Transportation Asset Management (TAM). From this program came the Rock Slope Asset Management Program (RAMP).
The goal of the 2015 research project was to assess changes in MDT’s rock slope assets since its implementation and to gather data that would allow MDT to develop an updated rock slope hazard assessment program with TAM-compatibility as an added benefit. The research project scope included identifying rock slope condition and risk factors, determining critical sites, incorporating benefit/cost analysis, and forecasting future asset condition based on various budget scenarios. The objectives of the program were to 1) update rock slope rating criteria; 2) determine critical sites based on condition, risk, and cost/benefits using new decision support tools; 3) develop/cost benefit scenarios; and 4) evaluate compatibility of the RAMP process with MDT’s Transportation Asset Management program.
Through the completion of the project, the research team visited 391 sites to update ratings from the original RHRS research project. In addition to updating the RHRS scores, we developed and implemented condition rating criteria that suits both technical needs and high-level decision making. This was accomplished by developing a number of rating rubrics that adhere to TAM principles, including a high-level Good / Fair / Poor evaluation. Further subdividing slope condition assessments into one of five Condition States facilitates deterioration analysis, determination of probability of a road-closing rockfall event, and cost estimate development for rock slopes preservation activities. For more nuanced and technical decision making, slope evaluations based on RHRS score, Condition Index, or custom combinations of individual rating elements are available.
The project team developed online mapping platforms utilizing MDT’s existing GIS platform, ArcGIS Online. This platform significantly improves interaction with the RAMP data by moving from the previous Oracle platform into a modern, user-friendly mapping platform. The entire RAMP database resides on the online platform, with photos of each site available through both read-only public and writable internal links. Tracking and recording rockfall events and their impacts to the Department and the public is facilitated using map-based forms that are instantly available online. MDT Geotechnical personnel and select individuals can enter event and maintenance information, improving long-term risk and costs analyses. Online map series of various decision support tools, minimal acceptable conditions, and rock slope failures are available to MDT personnel via the web.
Applying accepted asset management models to the cost and deterioration estimates, Landslide Technology's research team examined various funding scenarios and how they would affect network-wide rock slope conditions over the next 10 years. The team concluded that annual funding levels of approximately $28 million will maintain current conditions. The analysis revealed that, if MDT continues its current method of funding rock slope management on a worst-first basis, approximately $35 million per year would be required to maintain current conditions. These results suggest that MDT can save $7 million per year by taking a proactive approach to prevent excessive slope deterioration. Further, the research team conducted an analysis of return for preservation investment, which showed that MDT can recoup every dollar spent on preserving rock slopes and also realize a benefit of an additional $1.14 for every dollar spent.
Full Report: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/research/projects/geotech/rockfall.shtml