There are two types of coastal management techniques, hard engineering, and soft engineering. We explain the difference and highlight the main types below.
Hard Engineering
Hard engineering is a coastal management technique used to protect coasts,by absorbing the energy of waves, preventing erosion and flooding. They are highly visible man-made structures used to stop or disrupt natural processes. These structures are expensive,short-term solutions and often they can have a negative impact on the environment. Installing hard engineering structures in one coastal location can have detrimental effects further down the coast.
Common Types of Hard Engineering
![](https://images.prismic.io/swim-guide/fcbe659e-422d-441d-aff6-cdccb22780b3_hard-engineering.png?auto=compress,format)
Soft Engineering
Soft engineering works with nature to protect the coast rather than trying to stop natural processes. It uses ecological principles and practises, therefore making less of a negative impact on the natural environment. Soft engineering is less expensive to implement and maintain, and creates more long-term, sustainable solutions than hard engineering projects.
Common Types of Soft Engineering
![](https://images.prismic.io/swim-guide/3f18bf67-baa1-4a16-a9bb-bc39940872fb_soft-engineering.png?auto=compress,format)