Virtual geographic environment-based integrated rockfall risk simulation method for canyon bridges

Bridges located in mountainous areas are vulnerable to rockfall accidents, posing a threat to bridge engineering construction and operation safety in these regions. Under the coupling effect of complex environments and engineering disturbances, integrated rockfall risk simulation has become increasingly important for canyon bridge structural protection in long-term construction and operation phases. One of the main scientific challenges in rockfall risk simulation is studying the interaction between rockfalls and the topography and engineering environments during consecutive contacts. To systematically simulate the integrated bridge rockfall risk, an integrated construction of multivariable elements coupled with rockfall risk environments and scenarios is required. In this article, we proposed a VGE-based integrated rockfall scenario simulation method that uses the "associated representation-integrated modelling-interactional simulation" core strategy. Our method constructs a virtual rockfall risk environment by fusing multisource data to represent rockfall factors that induce rockfall disasters, hazard-forming environments, and elements at risk. We design rockfall scenarios under different bridge engineering construction conditions and extreme environmental conditions to analyze the interactional rockfall risks. The results demonstrate that our method enables a systematic analysis of the potential integrated rockfall risk, providing realistic reference value for the timely and effective disposal of emergencies, and reducing the harm and losses caused by such emergencies.