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Technical
How to prevent coastal erosion through engineering innovation
John Rodgman Borehole Solutions
As waves and storms steadily erode parts of the UK coastline, John Rodgman examines how various coastal engineering techniques can mitigate these challenges.
Coastal erosion has affected cliffs at West Bay on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset (image: Dreamstime)
While the vast majority of our 31,368km of coast has remained largely unchanged over the past few centuries, in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk and Dorset, the cliffs are retreating at an alarming rate.
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With climate change, coastal erosion has emerged as a pressing concern for communities around the world, posing significant threats to property, infrastructure and natural habitats.
To preserve the future of the UK’s coastline and coastal communities globally, innovative engineering must come into play.
Technical challenges of coastal erosion
Coastal erosion – the gradual weakening of land due to natural forces, such as waves, currents and storm surges – has become a more pressing concern due to rising sea levels and more frequent storms from climate change, which dramatically speed up the rate of erosion.
Coastal engineering grapples with various multifaceted challenges to delicately counteract erosion. Powerful waves erode shorelines by carrying away sediments through longshore drift, rising sea levels intensify the rate of erosion, and coastal structures must withstand the corrosiveness of saltwater, as well as the impact of waves.
Any defence structures must consider wave patterns, sediment transport, and long-term structural stability, with suitable materials and techniques selected to enhance durability. Additionally, with the rate of erosion unlikely to slow any time soon, adaptive designs and repairs must be able to accommodate future shifts in the aforementioned factors.
How coastal engineering helps
Coastal engineering tackles these issues head on with the use of various strategies, including, but not limited to:
Breakwaters and seawalls: Both breakwaters (submerged or partially submerged barriers) and seawalls (vertical barriers or embankments parallel to the shoreline) help protect against erosion by dissipating wave energy.
Beach nourishment: This practice involves adding sand and sediment to eroded beaches to compensate for natural erosion and longshore drift, protecting the area against storm surges and compensating for natural erosion.
Living shorelines: A living shoreline forms a stabilised coastal edge by using natural materials, such as plants, sand and rock.
There’s no skirting around the fact that coastal engineering requires a holistic approach.
To begin, a thorough evaluation and assessment of the site’s unique characteristics is necessary to form a tailored engineering approach. This includes, but is not limited to, wave patterns, sediment composition, and existing structures. Insight is also required from geologists, hydrologists, ecologists and geotechnical specialists to craft a comprehensive strategy that ensures structural longevity.
The Holderness coastline: a case study
Various coastal engineering have been used to slow cliff erosion on the Holderness Coast (image: Dreamstime).
A coastal engineering project was initiated to mitigate this. A combination of strategies, including beach nourishment, revetments and rock groynes was employed. This was done with the intention of bolstering the shoreline’s natural defence, whilst also absorbing wave energy and preventing further erosion.
This project successfully slowed coastal retreat, protecting vital infrastructure and local communities. Ongoing maintenance ensures the continued effectiveness of these structures against the dynamisms of the coast.
Relevant standards and guidance to consider
Construction professionals can draw valuable insight from established standards and guidelines, including:
Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM): This comprehensive document covers a wide spectrum of coastal engineering topics, serving as a practical reference for many professionals.
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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