Elmouttie, MK, Dean, P, Krahenbuhl, G & Allemand, J 2016, 'The benefits of undertaking robust structural mapping for the slope design, management and excavation processes', in PM Dight (ed.), APSSIM 2016: Proceedings of the First Asia Pacific Slope Stability in Mining Conference, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 573-586, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1604_38_Elmouttie (https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1604_38_Elmouttie/) Abstract: An accurate understanding of the role of discontinuities, in defining the physical properties of the rock mass, is required to assist in the excavation of stable slopes. For open cut mining operations, the continual sampling of the rock mass, through structural mapping of bench and highwall faces, can provide an abundance of high quality discontinuity data. In this paper, the authors will discuss some of the complicating issues associated with structural mapping, including scanner data acquisition, analysis and interpretation that geotechnical engineers regularly encounter. They will also discuss the benefits of mitigating these issues and undertaking such an analysis for improvement of the slope design, management and excavation processes. Keywords: structural mapping, slope design, management