Soft Engineering

Question 1

Dune regeneration
Draw a diagram.
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 1

See notes
Helps develop sand dunes by planting vegetation to bind sediment as well as fencing off areas
Advantages:
Cost effective
Environmentally friendly
Disadvantages:
Not as effective as hard engineering techniques

Question 2

Afforestation
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 2

The replanting/reseeding of trees in an area where there was no forest
Advantages:
increased infiltration
Cheap
Environmentally friendly
Disadvantages:
Slow process/ doesn’t have an immediate impact

Question 3

Drainage
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 3

Involves draining the excess water from underneath the beach using a drain pipe. Sediment is then allowed to dry and the beach is easily built up
Advantages:
Very natural
Enhances the sands effect as a buffer
Disadvantages:
Drain pipes have to be installed and maintained
Costly over time

Question 4

Managed retreat
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 4

Low value land is chosen to be placed near flood prone areas
Advantages:
Saves residential areas from damage
Doesn’t matter if low value land is flooded
Disadvantages:
The zone may already be built on

Question 5

Red lining
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 5

Withdrawal or prevention of planning for new development
Advantages:
Prevents any damage to potential developed areas
Very natural
Disadvantages
Loss of land

Question 6

‘Do nothing’
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 6

No protection is offered to the land
Advantages 
Costs nothing 
Natural
Disadvantages:
Problems may be worse due to implications of flooding.

Question 7

What is the difference between: advancing the line, holding the line and managed retreat?

Answer 7

Advancing the line: new defences are built further out at sea in order to reduce stress on current defences, coastline may also be extended slightly

Holding the line: no new defences are built but current ones are maintained and looked after

Do nothing: the easier option, area of little value with nothing for the government to protect, the effects of flooding are dealt with as they come

Question 8

Beach nourishment 
Draw a diagram.
How does it work?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?

Answer 8

Extra sand is placed/pumped onto the beach to counteract LSD
Advantages:
Appears as natural
Builds up the beach acting as a barrier
Disadvantages:
Cost is high £1,000 per 10 meters
Erodes quickly
Process has to be repeated every year