Soft engineering Flashcards
What is soft engineering?
use knowledge of the whole river basin and its processes to try to work with nature
Name general advantages of soft engineering
Cheap to maintain
Flooding is less severe and more predictable
Look better than hard engineering
What is land use management and what are the advantages/disadvantages?
Planning restrictions prevent buildings or roads being constructed on the floodplain.
Advantages: building or roads won’t be damaged in a flood and it provides recreational opportunities
Disadvantages: Restricts development and can’t be used in urbanised areas
What is river restoration and what are the advantages/disadvantages?
Involves making the river more natural and allowing the river to flood naturally which reduces the severity of flooding
Advantages: little maintenance is needed and it provides a good habitat for wildlife
Disadvantages: local flood risks increase
