Fracture system characterization in underground excavations using digital trace map analysis

This paper describes how digital face mapping can be employed to construct fracture trace maps from rock exposures. This information is subsequently used to characterize and classify rock masses using a series of geomechanical parameters. The methodology has been developed to take into consideration the limited size of rock faces recorded by photographs. A case study from a Quebec underground mine is used to illustrate the data gathering process, the construction of trace maps and characterization results. This paper further addresses the number of photographs necessary to minimize associated characterization errors.