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Rockfall

A rockfall is the sudden detachment and free fall of individual rocks or rock masses from cliffs or steep slopes. In Switzerland, rockfall hazard is mapped at cantonal level as part of the natural-hazard cadastre.

What this data measures

Rockfall hazard layers show areas where rock detachment has been recorded historically or is predicted by terrain models.

Zones are classified by expected intensity, such as rock size and energy, and by expected frequency.

How to interpret it

Rockfall is highly localized: a parcel either is or is not within modeled reach from nearby cliffs.

The hazard layer shows where that reach has been estimated based on the local topography and historical evidence.

Properties in rockfall zones may benefit from protective measures such as catch nets and deflection barriers, often implemented at municipal or cantonal level.

Data sources