Hard and Soft Engineering Flashcards
what is hard engineering
hard engineering is the process of using artificial structures to control the forces of nature
what is soft engineering
soft engineering is the process of using non artificial structures to work with the natural coastal processes and manage the coast
what are the main examples of hard engineering
- sea walls
- groynes
- gabions
- rock armour
what are the main examples of soft engineering
- beach nourishment
- beach re-profiling
- dune regeneration
- marsh creation
describe what groynes are and how much they cost
- they are wooden structures perpendicular to the beach
- to prevent beaches from being swept away (trap sand)
- they cost 5000 pounds each.
what are the advantages and disadvantages of groynes
- adv is that it act as windbreaks
- and have concrete crests for people to walk on to fish
- disadv is that it impedes people from walking along the beach
- and is dangerous is to unaware people
describe what sea walls are and how much they cost
- they are a barrier wall at the back of a beach
- 5000 pounds per meter
- recurved walls are more expensive
what are the advantages and disadvantages of sea walls
- adv is that it gives people a sense of security
- and acts as transport paths for sitting and bikers -
disadv is that it is extremely expensive to maintain - and high waves spill over anyway(ineffective)
describe what gabions are and how much they cost
- they are steel wire mesh cages filled with pebbles and rocks placed at back of beach
- to create wall like structure
- 110 pounds per meter
what are the advantages and disadvantages of gabions
- adv is that it is relatively cheap and easy to construct
- and ideal for quick fix solution
- disadv is that it is restricted to sandy beaches
- and easily destroyed so high maintenance in needed
describe what rock armour is and how much it costs
- they are thousands of tonnes of huge boulders of hard rock
- which act as a barrier between the sea and land
- the boulders are usually big enough to stay put in a storm
- 1000 to 3000 pounds a meter
what are the advantages and disadvantages of rock armour
- adv is that it is quick to build and maintain
- and very versatile (used for a variation of waves and beaches)
- disadv is that access to beach is difficult
- and needs regular maintenance as rocks can be moved by storms
describe what beach nourishment is and how much it costs
- it the act of moving material along the beach to even it out
- 3000 pounds per km
what are the advantages and disadvantages of beach nourishment
- adv is that it restores and widens the recreation beach
- and does not leave hazards on the beach when erosion happens
- disadv is that access to beach is restricted for weeks when nourishing
describe what sand dune regeneration is and how much it costs
- it is the restoration of sand dunes by planting marrams to stabilise the dune
- 1000 to 4000 pounds per meter