Coastal Protection methods

The artificial process of adding sediment (sand) to a beach for recreational and aesthetic purposes as well as to provide a buffer to coastal erosion

• Beach Nourishment

• beach reprofiling

• groynes

• dune regeneration

The re-shaping of the beach using existing beach material. Sediment (sand/stones) are moved from the lower part of the beach to the higher part

• beach nourishment

• dune regeneration

• beach reprofiling

• hard engineering

Large boulders piled up to form a wall that stops erosion (Also known as Rock Armour Protection)

• gabions

• Rip-rap

• groynes

• beach nourishment

Artificial (man-made) constructions designed to interfere with natural coastal processes e.g. sea wall, gabions, etc

• soft engineering

• beach reprofiling

• hard engineering

• coasts

More environmentally friendly techniques, that often use natural materials and tends to work in tandem with the natural processes e.g. beach nourishment or managed retreat

• hard engineering

• soft engineering

• rock armour

• gabions

This type of protection is expensive, but it is built to absorb wave energy in place of a beach, and protect foot of a cliff.

• dune regeneration

• beach nourishment

• groynes

• sea wall

An artificial structure designed to trap sand moved by longshore drift, therefore building up a beach which makes waves break further out.

• soft engineering

• gabions

• groynes

• sea wall

Corrosion-resistant wire baskets are filled with rocks and then stacked to form retaining walls. These absorb the energy of waves and prevent erosion

• rip-rap

• groynes

• rock armour

• gabions

When grass can be planted to stabilise the mounds of sand on the beach. These buildups of sand act as a natural barrier to coastal erosion

• beach nourishment

• dune regeneration

• beach reprofiling

• soft engineering