'Soft engineering is a better river flood management strategy than hard engineering.' Discuss this view.
{"Image DocumentName": "\u2018Soft engineering is a better river flood management strategy than hard engineering.\u2019", "Image ImageDescription": "Discuss this view. 15 marks. There is a need to make clear why soft engineering strategies are preferred to hard engineering or vice versa. This is the likely route so there should be reference to the advantages of soft engineering and possibly also the disadvantages of hard engineering. There will probably be some description of the relevant strategies that may be adopted. Alternatively, candidates may disagree with the statement and provide advantages of hard engineering and disadvantages of soft engineering. The. final option is to perceive the complementary nature of the two approaches and. discuss this aspect. Advantages of soft engineering are likely to refer to its greater sustainability, its limited interference with a natural system, the ability to improve the environment at times and to work with natural systems so that wetlands and habitats may be restored/created, the relative affordability. Disadvantages of hard engineering relate to the extent to which there is change to the natural system and questions over its sustainability \u2013 the large scale of building dams and their environmental impact, as well as economic and social costs. Similarly, channelisation means that the flood risk may be increased downstream and habitats destroyed. Continued\u2026.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}