Manangement Strategies

Question 1

What is hard engineering

Answer 1

-typically on a large scale
-very expensive
-short term but effective
-very visual and could disrupt look of the natural landscape
-can reduce deposition

Question 2

What is soft engineering ?

Answer 2

-smaller scale
-less require but require management
-provide longer terms
-blends into the environment
-less harmful to humans and animals
-remodelling the coastline can disrupt wildlife

Question 3

What are some examples of hard engineering management strategies?

Answer 3

Gabions, rock armour/rip rap, groynes and sea walls

Question 4

What are some examples of soft engineering management strategies?

Answer 4

Dune regeneration and beach nourishment

Question 5

What are some advantages and disadvantages of a sea wall?

Answer 5

Advantages:
-they are very effective in stopping the sea damaging the coastline
-they can also be used as walkways or promenades minimising there potentially obtrusive and unnatural look

Disadvantages:
They are very expensive (5-10 thousand per metre)

Question 6

What are some advantages and disadvantages of groynes?

Answer 6

Advantages:
- they can create a wider beach which will attract tourists
-groynes can be useful for people fishing
-cost £150,000 each which overall is not that expensive

Disadvantages:
-by stopping longshore drift they starve beaches further along the coastline so it can actually increase erosion (the problem it’s just moved down the coastline)
-they are unnatural looking

Question 7

What are some advantages and disadvantages of rock armour/ rip rap?

Answer 7

Advantages:
-protects the cliff from erosion
-they are relatively cheap and easy to maintain
-cost only £200,000 per 100m

Disadvantages:
-they can be expensive to transport
-rocks are brought in from a different part of the country or world so do not fit in with local geology
-sometimes they obtrusive, restricting access to certain parts of the beach

Question 8

What are some advantages and disadvantages of gabions?

Answer 8

Advantages:
They relatively cheap to produce and can be flexible in the final design (cost £50,000 per 1000)
-eventually vegetation will grow over them and they will start to merge in with the landscape
-they can protect cliffs and beaches and drainage of cliffs

Disadvantages:
-only last about 5-10 years before they start to rust
-they look unattractive at first

Question 9

What are some advantages and disadvantages of dune regeneration?

Answer 9

Advantages:
-sand dunes are effective buffers to the sea
-marram grass can be planted to stabilise the dunes and help them develop
-maintains the natural coastal environment and overall is quite cheap (cost £200-2000 per 100m)

Disadvantages:
-can be easily trampled and destroyed by trampling
-it takes time to plant the vegetation and for the grass to fully establish
-extreme weather can also damage these

Question 10

What are some advantages and disadvantages of beach nourishment?

Answer 10

Advantages:
-the sand or shingle is usually obtained locally, from offshore locations so it blends in with existing beach material and can attract tourists
- relatively cheap to maintain

Disadvantages:
It needs constant maintenance unless structures are built to retain the beach