What are soft engineering strategies?
What are soft engineering strategies?
Soft engineering techniques involve working with nature to manage the coastline. Techniques include cliff stabilisation, dune regeneration and managed retreat.
What are the examples of soft engineering?
Examples of soft-engineering include; afforestation where trees are planted closer to rivers to slow down flood waters, ecosystem management that integrates human and natural needs of the river, as well as planning to control developments along riverbanks[2].
What are two hard engineering strategies?
These strategies are summarised below.
- Concrete sea wall. Solid facing to a coastal wall or cliff.
- Revetment. Open slanted concrete or wooden facing/fence offering partial resistance but letting some seawater to pass through.
- Rip rap / rock armour.
- Tetrapods.
- Gabions.
- Groynes.
- Offshore reefs.
What are examples of soft stabilization techniques?
Soft stabilization may involve planting vegetation near the shoreline. This anchors the sand and sediment, which slows erosion caused by wind and waves. Because these methods use only organic materials, the aesthetics and natural habitats of the beach are maintained.
What are soft engineering strategies for Rivers?
Soft engineering is enhancing a river’s natural features, its banks, to protect them from erosion. Examples of soft engineering strategies include planting vegetation and river restoration. Dredging involves excavating the sediment at the bottom of the river bed and moving it to a different location.
What are hard engineering techniques?
Hard engineering is a coastal management technique used to protect coasts,by absorbing the energy of waves, preventing erosion and flooding. They are highly visible man-made structures used to stop or disrupt natural processes.
Is embankments a soft engineer?
Examples of hard engineering strategies include artificial embankments or levees, channelisation, diversion spillways and dredging. These are larger than natural levees and are usually made of erosion-resistant concrete. They allow more water to flow in the river at a greater height so flood risk is reduced.
How do you stabilize shorelines?
Prevent erosion of higher shoreline bluffs by:
- Retaining moisture-absorbing vegetation on the bluff.
- Diverting surface runoff away from the bluff (including rain gutter outlets).
- Reducing runoff rate toward the bluff.
- Minimizing paved areas that increase runoff.
- Limiting ground water flow toward the bluff.