Hard and Soft Engineering Flashcards

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1
Q

what is hard engineering

A

hard engineering is the process of using artificial structures to control the forces of nature

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2
Q

what is soft engineering

A

soft engineering is the process of using non artificial structures to work with the natural coastal processes and manage the coast

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3
Q

what are the main examples of hard engineering

A
  • sea walls
  • groynes
  • gabions
  • rock armour
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4
Q

what are the main examples of soft engineering

A
  • beach nourishment
  • beach re-profiling
  • dune regeneration
  • marsh creation
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5
Q

describe what groynes are and how much they cost

A
  • they are wooden structures perpendicular to the beach
  • to prevent beaches from being swept away (trap sand)
  • they cost 5000 pounds each.
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6
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of groynes

A
  • 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
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7
Q

describe what sea walls are and how much they cost

A
  • they are a barrier wall at the back of a beach
  • 5000 pounds per meter
  • recurved walls are more expensive
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8
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of sea walls

A
  • 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)
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9
Q

describe what gabions are and how much they cost

A
  • 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
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10
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of gabions

A
  • 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
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11
Q

describe what rock armour is and how much it costs

A
  • 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
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12
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of rock armour

A
  • 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
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13
Q

describe what beach nourishment is and how much it costs

A
  • it the act of moving material along the beach to even it out
  • 3000 pounds per km
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14
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of beach nourishment

A
  • 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
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15
Q

describe what sand dune regeneration is and how much it costs

A
  • it is the restoration of sand dunes by planting marrams to stabilise the dune
  • 1000 to 4000 pounds per meter
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16
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of beach nourishment

A
  • adv is that it reduces erosion of cliff by the build up of material creating wide sandy beaches
  • disadv is that the areas are fenced off and out of bounds
  • which can even deter tourists
17
Q

describe what beach reprofiling and how much it costs

A
  • it is the direct transfer of material from lower to upper beach
  • up to 20000 pounds
18
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of beach reprofiling

A
  • adv is that it accelerates the natural recovery of beaches
  • and it still looks kind of natural
  • disadv is that major reprofiling is expensive
  • West Sussex project costs 200k a year
19
Q

describe what marsh creation is and how much it costs

A
  • it is the process of allowing low lying coastal areas to be flooded by sea and become salt marshes
  • there is no definite costs as little assistance is needed
20
Q

what are the advantages and disadvantages of marsh creation

A
  • adv is that it creates a natural habitat for wildlife -
  • disadv is that the relocation of people causes distress
  • and areas of agriculture is lost