Chalk cliff, showing threat to installations below (Belbeuf, Seine-Maritime, 2020).
© BRGM - C. Myr
The need
The Seine valley is undergoing extensive social and economic development. But because its chalky slopes have distinct geological, geotechnical and geomorphological features, certain climatic events can make them unstable, resulting in rock falls and, more rarely, rock slides.
Given the shape of the valley bottom and the high flood risk, many buildings and other infrastructure where people work and live are often found clustered at the foot of these potentially unstable slopes. Several major events occurred recently, such as in Villequier, where the owners of 14 damaged homes were compensated by the government, and in Tancarville, Orival and Duclair.
In this context, the Seine-Maritime Departmental Authority for Inland and Marine Areas (DDTM76) recently carried out a preliminary survey of susceptible cliff areas, which could expose buildings and infrastructure to the danger of falling rocks. Following this work, BRGM launched a campaign programme over several years to assess and map this hazard in detail in all the susceptible areas identified. The aim of the campaign was to identify which areas were really at risk, to determine which buildings and infrastructure would be most affected in the case of rock falls or slides, and to provide useful recommendations for appropriate safety measures.
Fallen rock from the chalky plateau (Villequier, Seine-Maritime, 2020).
© BRGM - C. Myr
The results
During the first stage, the work focused on 19 priority areas (along 10 km of cliff) in the communes of Belbeuf, Duclair, Freneuse, Orival, Tancarville and Villequier. Each site was assessed, modelled and mapped for rock fall and slide hazards. Exposed buildings and road sections located in low-, medium- and high-susceptibility areas were identified for each site. Using this approach, we finally identified:
- 727 buildings and 20 road sections in high-susceptibility areas;
- 125 buildings and 17 road sections in moderate-susceptibility areas;
- 1 road section in a low-susceptibility area.
Indicative safety recommendations based on different safety objectives were proposed for the sites located in high-susceptibility areas that included buildings or infrastructure. The recommendations mainly concerned managing visitor numbers and implementing hazard-reducing or safeguarding measures.
Using the results
The maps produced during the campaign will be incorporated into local inter-communal land-use plans to regulate urbanisation in the areas that would be adversely impacted in the event of rock slides. We intend to focus on built-up areas highly susceptible to rock falls and slides, and produce design and structural assessments in line with the required safety objectives.
The partners
- Seine-Maritime Departmental Authority for Inland and Marine Areas
