Hard and soft engineering

1.2d The types of hard and soft engineering used on the coastline of the UK, and the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques.

Specification detail

Define hard and soft engineering.

Describe hard and soft engineering techniques used in the UK, including groynes, sea walls, off-shore reefs, riprap, revetments, beach replenishment, managed retreat and cliff regrading.

Learning Objectives

Soft EngineeringThe use of ecological principles and practices to reduce erosion and achieve the stabilization and safety of shorelines and the area surrounding rivers, while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics, and saving money

Hard EngineeringControlled disruption of natural processes by using man-made structures.

Definitions

Soft engineering

Hard engineering

How can the coastline be protected?Hard engineering techniques aim to stop coastal processes from occurring. Soft engineering methods try to work with nature to protect the coast.

Coastal management strategies : Here Home built sea defences: Here

Example video clips

Define hard and soft engineering.

Describe hard and soft engineering techniques used in the UK, including groynes, sea walls, off-shore reefs, riprap, revetments, beach replenishment, managed retreat and cliff regrading.

Learning Objectives

Groynes

Sea wall

Offshore breakwater

Gabion

ripraps

Beach replenishing

Managed retreat

Cliff regrading

What has been done to protect Swanage?

Using the A3 sheet, fill in the blanks

TASK

Define hard and soft engineering.

Describe hard and soft engineering techniques used in the UK, including groynes, sea walls, off-shore reefs, riprap, revetments, beach replenishment, managed retreat and cliff regrading.

Learning Objectives

Revision

What is the best method of coastal protection?

This is the imaginary coastal town of ‘Seaview’. Seaview has been suffering from coastal erosion for the last 15 years since the nearby larger town of ‘Engleton’ had groynes built to protect its own coastline.

What is the best method of coastal protection?

There are strong feelings about what should be done to protect Seaview!

Give each scheme a score from 1 (poor) to 5 (good). For example, an expensive scheme should have a low score.

Would you choose the scheme with the highest score? Why?

Which is the most important criteria?

What is the best method of coastal protection?

Examination question

Choose two of the sea defences and explain how they are used to protect cliffs from collapse.

List three disadvantages of hard engineering solutions.

Suggest one reason why some coastlines are not protected from the sea.

What do you know about coastal defences?