The Management and Creation of Beaches for Coastal Defence

The creation and management of beaches using natural mobile materials can often provide a cost-effective and environmentally appropriate coastal defence. This paper summarizes recent practical endeavours in beach creation and management. Reference is made to the natural sources of beach building materials and to the numerical and physical models that may be employed to assist in the definition both of material transport paths and their magnitude. Risk analysis is noted to be a necessary part of the beach design process together with an appraisal of the coastal hydrodynamics and topographical constraints of the site of interest. The techniques that have been employed to recycle beach materials on some frontages are described, with comments on bypassing materials around obstructions. The paper describes the important considerations to be made when material is being imported to a beach, and notes some of the presently used techniques. Important points are drawn out for the future of beach creation and management, and a number of research needs and administrative difficulties are highlighted.