Hard engineering

• What are groynes and how much are they

  Structures built perpendicular (at right angle) to shore. Sediment is trapped as it's transported by longshore drift The beach builds up which absorbs wave energy

  Cost: £150-250 per metre
• What are the advantages of groynes

  - highly effective in a local context, such as maintenance of holiday beaches

  - not as expensive as other hard engineering structures

  - builds up the beach which improves tourist potential
• What are the disadvantages of groynes

  - whilst relatively cost effective to construct, they do require ongoing maintenance

  - aesthetically questionable although they have acquired a visual acceptance through longevity rather than design

  - need for expensive hardwood timbers raises the question of sustainability
• Are groynes sustainable social, economically and environmentally?

  - Not environmentally sustainable: as by trapping sediment on one side, groynes can cause erosion further down the coast, requiring additional management strategies

  - Social sustainable: build up beach therefore ppl can use it for recreational purposes

  - economic sustainable: build up of beach means ppl can have jobs e.g teaching to surf and lifeguards
• What are sea walls and how much do they cost

  Walls with a curved or stepped surface that absorb and reflect wave energy

  Cost: £6000 per metre
• What are the advantages of a sea wall

  - highly effective

  - can have tourism benefits as walkways are created= promenade= arcades= jobs

  - effective property defence in high-risk locations e.g Robin Hood's bay, North Yorkshire
• What are the disadvantages of a sea wall

  - very expensive to build and maintain - £6000 per metre

  - are ugly and intrusive to landscape

  - by deflecting waves, rather than dissipating their energy, concrete sea walls most notably, whether recurved or flat faced, are prone to relatively rapid erosion
• Are sea walls sustainable social, economically and environmentally?

  - not environmental sustainable: can disrupt natural ecosystems and have high carbon footprint due to material production and transport

  - social sustainable: provide promenade which ppl often utilise

  - economical sustainable: promenade provides jobs bc often there are arcades which provides jobs (and entertainment-> social)
• What is rip rap (rock armour) and how much does it cost

  Large concrete or granite boulders at the foot of a cliff. The spaces in between the boulders cause waves to bounce between many surfaces, reducing the energy of the waves

  Cost: £1300-6000 per metre
• What are the advantages of rip rap (rock armour)

  - cheaper than sea walls

  - used for recreation such as fishing
• What are the disadvantages of rip rap (rock armour)

  - dangerous when ppl on them

  - rocks from elsewhere are intrusive to local geology

  - rock armour traps flotsam and jetsam leading to both smell and rat infestation

  - presents potential public safety issue as a tripping and trapping hazard
• Is rip rap (rock armour) sustainable social, economically and environmentally?

  - not environmental sustainable: rocks from elsewhere intrusive to local geology

  - not social sustainable: dangerous when ppl on them therefore could cause injuries (however could be seen as sustainable due to fishing therefore recreational use)

  - economic sustainable: ppl have jobs e.g fishing
• What are gabions and how much do they cost

  Metal cages filled with beach cobbles and pebbles both reflect and absorb wave energy

  Cost: £280 per metre
• What are the advantages of gabions

  - cheaper

  - highly effective for preventing erosion

  - help reduce risk of flooding by reinforcing riverbanks, slopes and embankments

  - multiuse

  - can improve drainage of cliffs

  - will eventually become vegetated and merge into landscape
• what are the disadvantages of gabions

  - unsightly and prone to cage weathering (rusting)

  - maintenance requirements

  - cage only lasts 5-10 yrs before they rust
• Are gabions sustainable social, economically and environmentally?

  - are economical sustainable: relavity cheap option, vegetation grows over eventually becoming more natural in appearance

  - social sustainable: helps reduces flooding so ppls houses/buildings are more protected
• What are revetments and how much do they cost

  A sloped o ramp like structure that breaks up wave energy

  Cost: up to £4000 per metre
• What are the advantages of revetments

  - cost effective compared to other hard engineering strategies

  - effective for many years

  - absorb wave energy through slats

  - less beach material is eroded compared to sea wall
• What are the disadvantages of revetments

  - need lots of maintenance

  - unnatural looking

  - slopes are dangerous

  - very expensive to both maintain and build

  - by deflecting waves, rather than dissipating their energy, concrete revetments most notably, prone to relatively rapid erosion
• Are revetments sustainable social, economically and environmentally?

  - not environmental sustainable: disrupts natural ecosystems

  - social sustainable: don't imped ppl from walking along beach

  - not economical sustainable: require lots of maintenance and expensive
• What is offshore breakwater

  Rock barrier a little out to sea from shoreline. This breaks the waves and dissipates their energy before they reach the coast

  Cost: £2000- 3000 per metre
• What are the advantages of offshore breakwater

  - effective

  - away from the beach so doesn't disturb tourist potential

  - function after minor damage
• What are the disadvantages of offshore breakwater

  - can create a navigation barrier in harbour areas

  - ruin the surfing tourism industry

  - can be easily displaced by waves

  - ugly
• Is offshore breakwater sustainable social, economically and environmentally?

  - environmental sustainable: absorbs wave energy reducing erosion

  - not social/ economic sustainable: requires constant maintenance

  - social/ economic sustainable: keeps natural beach environment therefore beach= tourism