Coastal defences

Hard engineering = A coastal defence method which tends to be expensive which have a high impact on the landscape, and it is unsustainable.

Type of defence: Sea wall

Advantages - 

• Protects the base of cliffs, land ad buildings against erosion
• Can prevent coastal flooding in some areas.

Disadvantages - 

• Expensive to build
• Sea walls reflect the energy of the waves back to the sea; this means that the waves are just as powerful
• Over time the wall may begin to erode; along with high maintenance costs

Type of defence: Groyne 

Advantages - 

• prevents the movement of beach material along the coast by longshore drift 
• Allows the beach to build up
• Beaches are natural

Disadvantages - 

• Can be seen as unattractive 
• Costly to build and maintain 

Type of defence: Rock armour 

Advantages - 

• Absorbs the energy of the waves
• Allows build up of the beach

Disadvantages - 

• Can be expensive to obtain and transport boulders 

Soft engineering = A coastal defence method which are often less expensive than hard engineering methods; they are also usually more long-term and sustainable with less impact on the environment

Type of defence: Beach nourishment

Advantages - 

• A natural defence method against coastal flooding and coastal erosion
• Beaches attract tourists

Disadvantages - 

• Requires high maintenance

Type of defence: managed retreat (Areas of land are allowed to flood and erode naturally)

Advantages - 

• encourages the development of beaches and salt marshes
• low cost

Disadvantages - 

• Managed retreat is a cheap option but people will need to be compensateted for loss of land and housing