International Symposium on Rock Slope Stability in Open Pit Mining and Civil Engineering

18-21 September 2011 Vancouver, Canada

Erik Eberhardt & Doug Stead, Editors

Copyright: Canadian Rock Mechanics Association 

WelcomeThe first “International Conference on Stability in Open Pit Mining” was held in Vancouver in 1970; it has been 30 years since the conference was last held here in 1981.  During this time there have been enormous changes in the surface mining industry with mines reaching depths of over 1km and with the introduction of increasingly sophisticated data collection, monitoring and modelling techniques.  In the civil engineering sector the importance of slope stability assessment of rock slopes and landslides has increased with continued urban expansion and associated risk, both economic and safety. This symposium presents the state-of –the-art in rock slope stability applied to both mining and civil engineering.Over 100 papers have been contributed here representing current rock slope stability practice in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North and South America. These address the major themes of the symposium:

• Remote Sensing & Characterization of Large Rock Slopes
• Geo-Risk, Uncertainty & Data Management
• Slope Design & Acceptance Criteria
• Rock Slope Failure Mechanisms
• Rock Fall Analysis & Control
• Monitoring & Managing Slope Movements
• Slope Performance & Optimization
• Numerical Analysis & Design Methods
• Groundwater Investigation, Modelling & Depressurization
• Blasting, Protection & Stabilization

The symposium organisation acknowledges the efforts of the authors in producing papers of the highest quality and to the reviewers of these manuscripts.

During the 41 years since the first slope stability conference, the mining and civil engineering industries have risen to the geotechnical challenges presented in the design and stability assessment of both large open pit and high civil engineering rock slopes through a program of coordinated research translated into practical engineering solutions. Notwithstanding, further progress is required to ensure reduction in both geo-risk and the uncertainty associated with complex data sets and sophisticated numerical models. Through forums like the Slope Stability symposium series, the profession is helping to ensure the continued improvement in safety and project value through the exchange of new ideas, practical experience and exposure to state-of-the-art technologies.

Our sincere thanks go to the Organizing Committee and to the members of our International Advisory Panel for their consistent support and hard work. We also would like to acknowledge the generous support of our sponsors, exhibitors and the Canadian Rock Mechanics Association.

Erik Eberhardt and Doug Stead

Symposium Co-Chairs