Hard and soft engineering- analysis
- Created by: Lina
- Created on: 08-04-14 15:00
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- Engineering techniques
- Soft
- Afforestation
- Trees planted in the catchment area of the river to intercept the rainfall+ slow down the flow of water to the river
- Cheap
- Improves the quality of the environment
- Soil erosion is avoided- trees prevent rapid run off after heavy rainfall
- Sustainable
- Conifers that are planted make the soil acidic
- Dense tree plantations spoil the natural look of the landscape
- Increases fire risks because of leisure activities in the forest
- Warning systems
- A network of sirens- give people early warning of possible flooding+ the EA communicates it to the public
- Cheap
- El. communication is an effective way of informing people
- People can prepare in advance+ move their belongings
- Sirens could be vandalised- tested annually
- Might not be enough time for residents to prepare
- Floodplain Zoning
- Introduction of policies to control urban development close to the floodplain
- Cheap way of reducing the risk to damage property
- Sustainable- reduces the impact of flooding+ building is limited
- The floodplain isn't built on- surface runoff is less likely- flooding is less likely
- Resistance to restricting developments in areas with a shortage of housing
- Enforcing planning regulations+ controls- harder in LICs
- Afforestation
- Hard
- Embankments
- Raised banks along the river
- Can be used as a path for pedestrians
- Concrete ones are effective at stopping bank erosion
- Earth ones provide a habitat for animals
- Often not built high enough
- Concrete- ugly+ spoil the view
- Dams
- Built along the course of a river to control the amount of discharge- water is held back by the dam+ released in a controlled way
- Water that is stored in a reservoir can be used for hydroelectric power or recreation purposes
- Expensive- building costs
- Sediment trapped behind the wall of the dam- leads to further erosion downstream
- Settlements+ agricultural land lost when the river valley is flooded to form a reservoir
- Channelisation
- The river channel is widened/ deepened to carry more water-> water in the river travels faster
- Effectively protects immediate area- water is moved away quickly
- Long-lasting
- Greater risk of flooding downstream-> water is carried faster
- Unnatural+ visually obtrusive
- Embankments
- Soft
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