Stability Assessment of Rock Slopes Using the Q-Slope Classification System: A Reliability Analysis Employing Case Studies in Ecuador

Q-slope is one of the most recent empirical geomechanical classification systems and least studied in South America. This study aims to expand knowledge base regarding method demonstrate its applicability reliability rock slopes Andean countries, such as Ecuador. To this end, thirty rocky have been characterized considering (1) physical visual approach—geographic location, climate, lithology, alteration, stability (to obtain values Jr, Ja, Jwice, SRFa)—and (2) stations kinematic analysis (for determination type failure, Jn, O-factor, SRFc for Q-slope). Field data were collected contrasting environments (coastal, mountain, forest), different failure modes considered (planar, wedge, block, flexural topplings) better understand method. The results main contributions research are (i) verifying Jwice parameters climatic settings (ii) validating by applying a confusion matrix evaluate slope assessment. overall accuracy obtained 80%, placing highest evaluation quartile thus classifying it very good characterization.