[AS Level ] Hard Engineering
Techniques + Advantages and
Disadvantages
Embankments - Raised banks along the river
can be used as a path
concrete embankments can stop erosion
earth embankments provide habitats for wildlife
The banks are not always built high enough
Concrete embankments are ugly and unnatural
Channelisation - The river channel may be widened or
deepened to allow it to carry more water. A channel may
be straightened so that water can travel faster along the
course,
effectively protects immediate areas because water is
moved away quickly
Long lasting
altering the river channel may mean greater flooding risk as the
water is carried there faster
Unnatural and visually intrusive
Storage Areas - A large area near the
river that will fill with water if the
river overflows, protecting the
surrounding land.
Neded a large area of land that is not used
Only come into use when the river has flooded
Natural looking
Does not damage the environment
Dams - Built along the course of a river to
control the discharge. Water is held back in a
reservoir behind the dam and released in a
controlled way.
Very expensive to build
sediment is often trapped behind the dam leading to
erosion further downstream
Towns and farmland may be lost when the valley is flooded to form the reservoir.
Water in the reservoir can be used to generate
electricity (Hydroelectric) or for recreation)
Flood Relief Channels - The
channel course can be
changed to take flood waters
away from towns.
Makes people who live close the the main river safer as the flood water is taken away
can be used for water sports at other times
They use up a lot of land that might be difficult to buy if it is good farmland
Extremely Expensive
Flood walls - A vertical barrier
made from concrete.
They have to be assembled carefully so that
water does not get through the joints
Can be used in areas where they is not much space
easily and quickly erected using pre-constructed sections