Scaling and defences against falling rocks and avalanches
Scaling and defences against falling rocks and avalanches
Rock scaling, demolition and mountain remediation
The rock scaling is a technique used for quickly securing a rock wall, a slope tending to collapse or the quarry front of a tunnel, if there are parts or fragments that are subject to the risk of detachment and fall.
Thanks to a team of expert technicians and highly specialized personnel, rock climbers and mountaineers, is able to carry out these works in spectacular workplaces for their exposure and height compared to normal construction site plans.
Rock scaling on the wall with positioning by ropes
The rock scaling on the wall carried out by Dolomiti Rocce through its teams of expert rock climbers offers many advantages thanks to its privileged position in normally inaccessible places.
The operators, descending with mountaineering techniques, in fact acquire the exact image of the rocky slope at risk, operate on the points of actual danger and can provide the construction site with useful information on the state of the slope because they carry out a punctual inspection of the slope.
Rock scaling with explosives
Dolomiti Rocce performs demolitions and demolitions in particular conditions, for example when the explosive is the only effective system for the detachment of large rock volumes.
In such difficult conditions it is necessary to have both specially trained personnel and specific knowledge of the operations to be performed. In fact several difficulties could be found: for example due to the volumetry of the rocky masses at risk, or due to the state of the same masses with respect to the rock mass behind.
Demolitions with chemical agents
Dolomiti Rocce operates different techniques of rock scaling: in fact they can be executed with manual equipment or they can require a more complex organization, in the case of unstable masses due to their morphology and the state of the slope.
It is possible to resort to the use of expansive, non-explosive chemical agents, poured into specifically calculated perforations, thus operating the direct removal of the portion of slope at risk. Each case must be evaluated specifically in order to use the most effective technique.
Demolitions with hydraulic spreadings
Among the various types of demolition carried out by the highly qualified personnel of DOLOMITI ROCCE, those carried out by means of hydraulic spreaders allow the demolition of portions of rock in precarious balance through the use of high-pressure hydraulic equipment.
This type of equipment is the strand jacks and the spreaders. The technique requires that the various jacks be operated by qualified and highly specialized personnel, by means of a manual pump equipped with diverters. The equipment is installed in correspondence of natural fractures in the rock mass or of openings created on purpose and acts “opening” the fracture and thus obtaining the progressive detachment of the mass to be removed.
Defense structures against rocks falling and avalanches
NOTHING SHALL BE LEFT TO CHANCE. DOLOMITI ROCCE works with teams of technicians, selected from the most expert mountaineers and rock climbers, with family traditions and experiences gained also at high altitude. It carries out snow stop structures, rockfall protection systems, consolidation works and defence structures against rocks falling, hydrogeological installations, plant maintenance in such conditions that are normally judged to the limit of operational possibilities.
Rockfall protections, extremely performing, capable of taking down a lot of energy, placed upstream of the art works to be protected and made on any slope and on any terrain.
Dolomiti Rocce has specialists, equipment and exclusive techniques to implement modern rockfall protection systems, in the absence of access routes, according to the project requirements, in full compliance with environmental constraints.
Also the installation of snow stop structures often takes place outside the access routes on steep walls and in snowy areas. Dolomiti Rocce, thanks to a team of expert installers, realizes these structures on any terrain, transporting the materials on site with specially equipped helicopters.
Active defence against rocks falling
The techniques applied by Dolomiti Rocce allow to cancel costs, hinders to the users and delays, that often make it impossible to consolidate trough traditional methods.
The consolidation methods of the rocky slopes are very sophisticated and complex: the simple wire meshes are in fact more and more often integrated by reinforcement and consolidation structures. New techniques are used, such as the application of cable containment gratings and the integration of the grid with punctual consolidation anchors. Operations to be performed on the wall, often in extreme conditions.
Dolomiti Rocce, thanks to its specialized staff, has developed methodologies with which it is able to carry out such interventions without the use of fixed scaffolding. Rock climbers and mountaineers form a team of experts, with a perfect knowledge of the environment and with an uncommon ability to work under abnormal conditions. Special drills mounted on suspended platforms or on movable arms, perform perforations of large diameter and depth, without resorting to scaffolding.
The techniques developed by Dolomiti Rocce cancel costs, hinders to the users and delays that often make it impossible to consolidate using traditional methods. The mobile structures also make it possible to operate on any wall, with any slope regardless of the height and exposure of the slope at risk.
Wall covering with simple and reinforced metal meshes
In the active defense against falling rocks, DOLOMITI ROCCE realizes cortical coatings in order to control the detachment of unstable rock masses, widespread rather homogeneously on the rock slopes. The coatings are essentially made up of wire meshes of elementary wire integrated, where necessary, with reinforcement systems composed of steel ropes and rivets reinforced with steel bars (reinforced nets).
Cortical lining interventions can also be associated with other types of intervention aimed at solving problems of deep stability of the rock mass (frequently nails and tie rods).
Wall covering with high resistance meshes
In particularly risky situations, cortical coatings constructed with more complex materials than simple wire meshes are used. Dolomiti Rocce uses highly resistant wire mesh panels to form an articulated and complete system made up of anchors, wire rope panels, ropes and possibly even wire meshes.
The different types and strengths of the coatings depend on the mechanical characteristics of the mass to be consolidated.
Rivetting, tie rods and anchors
A fundamental role of modern consolidation systems is assumed by the realization of anchors and tie rods. They are made in order to slow down or prevent the movements of the blocks in conditions of precarious balance.
Dolomiti Rocce operates through its highly specialized workers in any situation, always with the highest professionalism.
The tie rods or the anchoring studs are structural elements made through the installation of resistant elements (such as steel bars or stranded systems) laid in holes made specifically in risky slopes.
Drilling techniques and ground anchoring methods are defined in relation to the nature of the materials to be crossed, while the equipment to be used is extremely specialized, often removable to be transported by helicopter, and in any case powerful, and, at the same time, sufficiently light to be used on the wall.
Wrapping and containment of rock volumes
When a rocky volume in conditions of extreme equilibrium cannot be reduced or dismantled (for example due to the presence of sensitive structures nearby) it is possible to consolidate it to the rock wall using rivetting integrated with steel ropes and / or high resistance panels.
Dolomiti Rocce applies this technique thanks to a deep know-how developed over the years. It involves the creation of rivettings or tie rods in relation to the nature of the materials to be crossed. The equipment to be used is extremely specialized, often removable to be transported, and in any case powerful, and, at the same time, sufficiently light to be used on the wall.
Concretes sprayed
Dolomiti Rocce produces sprayed concrete, often mitigating its visual impact with the use of special dyes that make the concrete absolutely similar to the color of the rock or of the surrounding structures.
These types of interventions are not frequent because they are considered to have a high environmental impact and because they require both a considerable availability of work vehicles and a high level of professionalism of the executing company; despite this, in some specific cases they have a considerable technical value.
Rockfall structures
Rockfall protection structures extremely performing, at high energy dissipation, laid in the most difficult conditions. Snow stop structures often created outside the access routes on steep walls and in snowy areas.
Dolomiti Rocce, thanks to a team of expert installers, realizes these structures on any terrain, transporting the materials on site with specially equipped helicopters. DOLOMITI ROCCE with a specific knowledge of the environment and in absolute respect of the ecosystem, uses specially designed equipment, built to be transported and suitable for moving in rough terrain; it also researches project solutions considering the environmental and access difficulties in which it operates.
Rockfall barriers
Dolomiti Rocce, thanks to the consolidated know-how developed in almost three decades of activity and to the preparation of technical personnel and workers, creates rockfall barriers in all operating conditions.
The installation of a rockfall protection barrier requires a large availability of work vehicles (motor compressor, medium-deep drilling equipment, injection plant, lifting means such as crane truck or helicopter) and high staff specialization: depending on the slope condition and the type of rockfall barrier to be installed, in fact, work techniques and assembly schemes change considerably.
Clients require the preparation of machines, personnel and specialized operating methods in order to minimize unforeseen events during construction, always guaranteeing the execution of the works within the set deadlines.
Snow stop barriers
The need to protect populations from real danger factors, or in general to protect urbanized areas or areas susceptible to urban development, the possibility of natural events such as the detachment of landslides or avalanches often require to work on construction sites located in particularly high odds.
Thanks to a perfect knowledge of the environment, an uncommon ability to work in anomalous conditions, teams of technical rock climbers and mountaineers, has immediately placed itself on the market as a leading company in the construction of high-altitude works. DOLOMITI ROCCE performs snow-stop structures, in conditions normally considered impossible.
With a specific knowledge of the natural environment and in absolute respect of the ecosystem, it uses specially designed equipment, built to be moved by helicopter, positioned in any slope condition and suitable for moving in rough terrain. It also researches project solutions considering the environmental and access difficulties in which it operates.
Special barriers on channels
This is a particular application consisting in the construction of rockfall protection screens, or debris flows, installed in correspondence with natural outflow channels. In this case, the interception screens are anchored directly to the walls using rivettings specifically dimensioned.
Access techniques, highly specialized personnel and the availability of specialized equipment allow DOLOMITI ROCCE to perform this type of work in any operating context, even the most complex.
High altitude works
In HIGH ALTITUDE there is no breath, the terrain is inaccessible, the cold is pungent, often there are no access routes, everything is more difficult. Nothing shall be left to chance. DOLOMITI ROCCE with a specific knowledge of the environment and in absolute respect of the eco-system, uses specially designed equipment, built to be transported and suitable for moving in rough terrain; it also researches project solutions taking into account the environmental and access difficulties in which it operates; it is therefore able to perform, at high altitude any type of work, because its strength consists in knowing how to overcome the operational difficulties.
Snow stop barriers
The need to protect populations from real danger factors, or in general to protect urbanized areas or areas susceptible to urban development, the possibility of natural events such as the detachment of landslides or avalanches often require to work on construction sites located in particularly high odds.
Thanks to a perfect knowledge of the environment, an uncommon ability to work in anomalous conditions, teams of technical rock climbers and mountaineers, has immediately placed itself on the market as a leading company in the construction of high-altitude works. DOLOMITI ROCCE performs snow-stop structures, in conditions normally considered impossible.
With a specific knowledge of the natural environment and in absolute respect of the ecosystem, it uses specially designed equipment, built to be moved by helicopter, positioned in any slope condition and suitable for moving in rough terrain. It also researches project solutions considering the environmental and access difficulties in which it operates.
Logistics at high altitude - helicopter
The logistics management in any construction site and, above all, in the contexts at high odds, represents the first and most important moment:in fact the results in terms of safety for the operators, quality of the interventions, satisfaction of the client and economic result mainly derive from the initial decisions.
There are many factors that influence the choices to be made: position, compatibility with the needs of the client, accesses, availability of spaces (which are usually very small at high altitudes), supply methods. At high altitudes the terrain is inaccessible, the cold is pungent, often there is no access, everything is more difficult and nothing shall be left to chance.
Dolomiti Rocce with a specific knowledge of the environment, uses specially designed equipment, built to be transported by helicopter and suitable for moving in difficult terrain. DOLOMITI ROCCE performs any type of work at high altitude, because its strength lies in knowing how to overcome operational difficulties.
Environmental Engineering
The modern society places as priority the complex and difficult search for a compatible development, which can combine, in a harmonious relationship, the economic needs with those related to environmental protection.
The strong modifications of the environment man-made have led to a drastic reduction or a general degradation of natural spaces in order to enlarge the areas destined for industrial, agricultural and service production.
All this has however led to a serious reflection on the negative consequences of these processes in terms of the crisis of ecological systems, so that the relationship between man and nature, which has always been on the one hand conflictual and on the other hand full of respect, currently records an intense effort of synthesis with the precise purpose of searching for a coherent and compatible form of development.
Provided that techniques and methods with low environmental impact are used, we believe that the human intervention can be oriented so that the economic needs find a meeting point with the environmental ones.
Dolomiti Rocce, in terms of equipment, technical skills and experience, has placed itself at the top of the list of companies able to carry out such interventions, with particular reference to the most unfavorable work environments in which it is necessary to work with expert personnel who are technically able to solve complex technical and organizational problems.
A new philosophy of action aimed at recovering degraded natural environments and at re-creating new ones with the identification of techniques and processes defined as “renaturalization”, “environmental engineering”, distinguishes the work of Dolomiti Rocce in the territory. A job that takes the form of high professionalism, wide range of technical solutions and innovative materials that can guarantee the recovery of areas otherwise destined for total abandonment.
Vegetative anti-erosion coatings
Dolomiti Rocce is at the top of the list of companies able to carry out anti-erosion vegetative coatings, with particular reference to the most unfavorable work environments in which it is necessary to have a team of experts technically able to solve complex organizational problems.
Dolomiti Rocce realizes works consisting of the overlapping of metallic nets with bio-mats, or three-dimensional mats, fixed to the ground by rivettings and combined finally with interventions of sowing hydrosemine, laying of cuttings or planting of shrubs.
The intervention sites are: hills, slopes and landslides both natural and in the road and railways.
The covering of the surface effectively counteracts surface erosions and landslides, intercepting rainwater and superficial flow, not allowing these to acquire the energy to move the loose surface layers of the substrate. The same live plant material, once it has taken root and developed, plays an efficient consolidation action over time.
Recovery of abandoned quarries
Dolomiti Rocce applies techniques and methods capable of restoring the safety of areas otherwise destined for abandonment by finding a meeting point between economic and environmental needs.
A frequent application case is the recovery of rock quarries in a state of degradation at the end of the cultivation operations. In these areas it is possible to recover the degraded environments in order to recreate new ones, then delivering them to public availability.
Hydro-seeding on walls
The ability of DOLOMITI ROCCE to operate in the most unfavorable conditions, makes it possible to carry out this type of work in all operational contexts, even with the help of the helicopter.
The hydro-seeding on walls consists in the coating of surfaces by spreading a mixture of seeds and water with a mechanical means. Spreading is carried out using specially constructed equipment (hydro seeders with barrel), in which seeds, adhesives, fertilizers, soil improvers and water are mixed. The mixture thus composed is distributed on the surface through pumps with adequate pressure in order not to damage the seeds themselves.
Mixed works in earth / wood
Mixed works in earth and wood are structures in which the natural elements (trunks, poles, bundles) exert a containment action, together with the living plant material.
Placed on the slopes, or at the foot of the areas subject to instability, they are opposed to gravitational movements, block the masses upstream, favor drainage, acting overall as a stabilizing and consolidating action and can ultimately form the basis for further Environmental Engineering interventions.
The same living plant material, once it has taken root and developed, performs over time an extremely efficient consolidation action, through the root and drainage apparatus.
Dolomiti Rocce is at the top of the list of companies able to perform mixed works in earth and wood, with particular reference to the most unfavorable work environments in which it is necessary to have a team of experts technically able to solve complex organizational problems.