Abstract: Based on the collection and review of the domestic and foreign literatures related to rock slopes, the situations and future development of slope stability analysis and monitoring are summarized in the aspect of methods for rock slope analysis, monitoring and forecast approaches. And especially, the characteristics of open-pit slope are analyzed in detail. The questions existing in the studies of open-pit slope stability are also pointed out. Further, a thought that the progressive damage evolution namely acoustic emission is the nature of rock slope instability is proposed; and the future development of studies of rock stability as well as forecasting methods are given. Firstly, the model which can calculate damage of rock slope from back analysis of the basis of microseismic monitoring data should be built; and the characterization methods of strength parameters of rock mass and evaluation methods of dynamic stability in open-pit slope engineering should be developed. These can give objective evidence to the strength reduction method for rock slope and provide mechanical basis for microseismic monitoring. Secondly, the relationship between microseismic activity, degradation of rock mass strength and slope dynamic instability will be investigated. Finally, precursory information of microseism and safety factor of slope are selected to form combined unstable criterion; and the prediction of rock slope instability and dynamic analysis of open-pit slope stability can be realized

Key words: slope stability analysis, microseismic monitoring, parameter inversion, numerical simulation