EPOCH. 1993. The temporal occurrence and forecasting of landslides in the European community (Ed: Flageollet, J. C.). Contract No. 90 0025, 3 Volumes.

The European classification, developed by the EPOCH (1991-1993) project (The Temporal Occurrence and Forecasting of Landslides in the European Community, Contract no. 90 0025) is simple and suitable for European conditions. The mechanism of failure underlies this scheme. The classification uses the terms fall, topple, slide (rotational), slide (translational), lateral spreading, flow and complex.

A fall usually denotes the free fall movement of material from a steep slope or cliff, whereas a topple, which is similar to a fall in many respects, normally involves a pivoting action rather than a complete separation at the base of the failure. Movements occurring on a distinct slide or shear surface are termed slides. These may be subdivided into rotational and translational according to the form of the failure surface. Rotational slides involve a semi-circular shear surface, whilst translational failures usually occur ob planar slip surfaces. Lateral spreading is characterised by the low angled slopes involved and the unusual form and rates of movement.  Flows normally behave as a fluidised mass in which water and air are significantly involved. The complex failures are principally a combination of two or more of these described movements. (Dikau et al, 1996)