Ash pond erosion process monitoring using LiDAR scans

The management of coal fly ash continues to transition from wet methods (e.g., sluice to settling ponds) to dry methods (compaction of ash into landfills). The closure of ash ponds and creation of ash landfills typically require designs which minimize infiltration and erosion. Impoundment practices such as dams for mine tailings and coal fly ash ponds accumulate constituents which, under certain conditions, may be hazardous to human health and the environment. Since most impoundments are exposed without protection, rain can induce erosion and generate leachate. Further, rain impact on ash erosion can cause massive ponding failures and resulting in spills. To monitor ash pond erosion process due to rain and possible use of chemical stabilization method to protect slope surfaces, terrestrial LiDAR is used to study simulated rain falls on ash slope. This paper reports laboratory studies using small-scale rain simulator and LiDAR scans to quantify mass loss due to rain impact.