SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF A HIGH VALUE HIGH RISK COAST: THE ROLE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS

摘要

The coastal area in southern England examined in this case-study is identifiable as being of high value using several measures of value and of high risk from coastal hazards as well as potential failures of structures. Sustainable management raises many questions of which two are particularly important for coastal engineering: 'Where does coastal engineering fit into the complexity of multi-disciplinary partnerships?' and 'What contribution have technological interventions made to the long-term sustainability of the economy and biodiversity of this coast?' Over several time-scales, sustained development has occurred here and has the potential to continue because technological interventions have been accepted as important and effective but not indispensable. However, this coast is increasingly at risk from the effects of sea level rise, increased storminess and more intense rainfall. Future actions will depend upon evaluations of this coast. Although the human system has been able to adapt and innovate as natural and human circumstances have changed, it is not certain that the human communities have yet begun to comprehend the nature and scale of the potential changes over the next several decades.