R-C-D-F machine learning method to measure for geological structures in 3D point cloud of rock tunnel face

This study introduces an innovative Roughness-CANUPO-Dip-Facet (R-C-D-F) methodology for the measurement of dip angle and direction in geological rock facets. The R-C-D-F method is distinguished by its comprehensive four-step approach, encompassing filtration through roughness analysis, CANUPO analysis, and dip angle filtration, followed by facet segmentation as the measurement step. To achieve precise and efficient results, the method specifically focuses on isolating joint embedment, achieved by systematically filtering out joint bands. This selective filtration process ensures that measurements are conducted exclusively on relevant joint embedment points. The novelty of this methodology lies in its capability to automatically eliminate joint bands while retaining the joint embedment points, facilitating precise measurements without manual intervention. Three site models were evaluated using the R-C-D-F method, alongside four different techniques for measuring dip angle and direction: plane fitting, normal vector conversion, facet segmentation, and compass measurements. The results demonstrated that all methods accurately calculated the dip angle, with an accuracy ranging from 97 % to 99.4 %. The facet segmentation method was selected as the optimal measurement tool due to its automatic nature and capacity to provide accurate results without manual intervention. Furthermore, the optimal local neighbour radius (LNR) for calculating normal vectors was determined, with findings indicating that a larger LNR value enhances accuracy but also increases computational time. A verification was conducted to estimate the dip angle used for filtering and discarding additional points representing joint rock bands, with the optimal value being 45, 30, and 45 degrees for the respective sites. The R-C-D-F method effectively detected and eliminated 100 % of joint band points while retaining 81 % of joint embedment points, and the facet segmentation method provided accurate dip angle and direction measurements for each joint embedment segment. These outcomes underscore the robustness and precision of the R-C-D-F method in geological engineering and rock stability studies.