The Commission C25 of the Intemational Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment is currently working on "The use of engineering geological models". This article presents examples of engineering geological models for landslides using both a conceptual and an observational approach.
Generally speaking, the conceptual model forms the basis for the development of the observational model. However, there are cases where the relationship between the conceptual model and the observational model is not so unidirectional.
The experience gained in developing the observational model in these cases can facilitate considerably the development of future conceptual models in the same type of engineering geological conditions.