Geography Hard Engineering and Soft Engineering

Geography Hard Engineering and Soft Engineering

1. Dams and Reservoirs

   • Benefits
     • Reservoirs store water which reduces the risk of flooding.
     • The water in the reservoir is sued as drinking water and can be used to generate HEP.
   • Costs
     • Dams are very expensive to build.
     • Creating a reservoir can flood existing settlements.
     • Eroded material is deposited in the reservoir and not along the rivers natural course.
       • So farmland downstream can be less fertile.

2. Channel Straightening

   • Benefits
     • Water moves out of the area quicker as it doesn't travel as far- reducing the risk of flooding.
   • Costs
     • Flooding may happen downstream of the straightened channel instead as flood water is carried there faster.
     • There is more erosion downstream as that is where the water is flooding fastest

3. Soft Engineering - schemes set up using the knowledge of the river and its processes to reduce the effects of flooding

   • Flood Warnings
     • costs
       • Don't stop a flood from happening
       • Some people might not have access to the warnings
     • benefits
       • Impacts of flooding reduced
         • People have time to move possessions upstairs, put sandbags in position, evacuate, etc
   • Preparation
     • costs
       • Doesn't guarantee safety from a flood
       • Could give people a false sense of security.
       • Modifying homes and businesses is expensive.
     • benefits
       • Impact of flooding is reduced as buildings as buildings less damaged
       • People are less likely to worry about the threats of floods if they are preared.
   • Flood plain zoning
     • costs
     • benefits