In 2009, the European Guideline for Flexible Rockfall Protection Kits European Technical Approval Guideline 027 (ETAG 027) became valid. The aim of the guideline was to approve and certify steel barriers available on the market according to a common standard. In 2018, ETAG 027 was replaced by a so-called European Assessment Document (EAD). This contribution summarizes results and experiences that were obtained through the type testing, approval and assessment procedures of 66 protection systems evaluated between 2009 and 2018. Apart from the common main task of the barriers to stop falling blocks successfully, the different test conditions and constructions of barriers result in different performance characteristics. Some of these characteristics follow certain trends, whereas others show a wide range without any trend. In such a case, this contribution helps to classify a single system compared to the others.

Numerical simulations of rockfall trajectories are a standard procedure for evaluating rockfall hazards. For these simulations, corresponding software codes must be calibrated and evaluated based on field data. This study addresses methods of repeatable rockfall tests, and investigates whether it is possible to produce traceable and statistically analysable data. A testing series is described extensively covering how to conduct rockfall experiments and how certain elements of rockfall trajectories can be measured. The tests use acceleration and rotation sensors inside test blocks, a system to determine block positions over time, surveying measurements, and video recordings. All systems are evaluated regarding their usability in the field and for analyses. The highly detailed description of testing methods is the basis for sound understanding and reproducibility of the tests. This article serves as a reference for future publications and other rockfall field tests, both as a guide and as a basis for comparisons. First analyses deliver information on runout with a shadow angle ranging between 21 and 45 degrees for a slope consisting of homogeneous soft soil. A digital elevation model of the test site as well as point clouds of the used test blocks are part of this publication.

In einem gebirgigen Land wie der Schweiz führen gravitative Naturgefahrenprozesse immer wieder zu Schäden an Sachwerten und zu Todesfällen, so auch Bergstürze und Steinschläge. Sturzereignisse haben in den letzten 15 Jahren Schäden in der Höhe von 55.5 Mio. CHF verursacht. Die Schadenskosten variieren von Jahr zu Jahr sehr stark und werden massgeblich von einzelnen grossen Ereignissen bestimmt. Dies zeigt eine Auswertung der Unwetterschaden-Datenbank der Eidgenössischen Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft (WSL), die hier in Bezug auf Bergstürze, Steinschläge und andere Sturzereignisse erstmals präsentiert wird. Phénomènes d'éboulement en Suisse entre 2002 et 2016 Les médias rapportent régulièrement les dommages provoqués par les processus de danger naturel. L'Institut fédéral de recherches WSL collecte les articles correspondants, et depuis 2002 également ceux qui concernent des processus de chute de pierres et d'éboulement. Parmi les 413 événements au total, 245 (59%) concernent les cantons de montagne des Grisons, du Valais, de Berne et du Tessin. Dans ces quatre cantons, ce sont 97% d'un total de 5.9 millions de m3 de rochers qui se sont éboulés. Les dommages les plus importants ont été par contre constatés, avec plus de 20 millions de CHF, dans le canton d'Uri. Avec le canton des Grisons (plus de 11 millions de CHF), ces deux cantons ont subi 57% de tous les dommages par éboulements et chutes de pierres enregistrés. Le montant moyen des dommages annuels de 3.7 millions de CHF n'a été fortement dépassé qu'au cours des années 2006 (9.4 millions de CHF) et 2012 (9.5 millions de CHF). Les années 2006 et 2011 ont...