Development of a Rockfall Risk Mitigation Plan in the Montserrat Massif (Central Catalonia, Spain)

Abstract

Within the last years, several rockfall events have affected different roads and facilities of the Montserrat Massif, located about 50 km North-West of Barcelona (central Catalonia, Spain). It shows a high number of exposed buildings, such as the monastery area, funiculars and a rack railway. Furthermore, the increasing number of annual visitors has highlighted the risk derived from rockfalls. To face this challenge, a geological risk Mitigation Plan in Montserrat has been launched by the Catalan government. The Plan aims at reducing the rockfall risk, progressively, taking into account the particularities of the site, considered as a natural and cultural heritage. Thus, a risk management strategy is required according to sustainability principles; the monitoring of the rock walls is a key factor that contributes to a continuous enhanced understanding of the hazard and risk factors for the consequent application of countermeasures. A first test and implementation phase was established for the period 2014–2016 followed by a second phase, which is expected to start from 2017, for the complete development of the plan. Then, a permanent third phase is also foreseen in order to guarantee the continuity and operability of the reached safety. The plan responds to a cyclical conception of risk management, where mitigation is a preventive stage providing preparedness and resilience for the emergency response stage. Furthermore, for the mitigation goal, four stages are designed in cyclic sequence of tasks involved in the plan.