WorksheetsTBSHS GCSE Geography: Rivers 5 - hard/soft engineering
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
Building structures as a defence against flooding
Hard engineering
Soft engineering
Using natural processes to reduce the impacts of flooding
Hard engineering
Soft engineering
Advantages of dams and reservoirs
Store large volumes of water until needed
Safe places to go swimming
A natural landscape feature
Can be used to generate hydro-electric power
Disadvantages of dams and reservoirs
Expensive to build
Flooding downstream
More erosion downstream
Displacement of people and destruction of natural habitats
Advantages of channelisation
They look natural
Allows water to flow more quickly away from areas of flood risk
Stop water from spreading into areas where it could cause problems e.g. housing
Cheap
Examples of hard engineering techniques
Channelisation
Washlands
Dams and reservoirs
Flood plain zoning
Examples of soft engineering techniques
Channelisation
Washlands
Dams and reservoirs
Flood plain zoning
Barriers constructed to hold back water in artificial lakes
Washlands
Flood plain zoning
Channelisation
Dams and reservoirs
Deepening and widening the river channel
Washlands
Flood plain zoning
Channelisation
Dams and reservoirs
Prevents development in areas most prone to flooding next to rivers
Washlands
Flood plain zoning
Channelisation
Dams and reservoirs
Areas next to rivers that are deliberately flooded to avoid flooding residential or important agricultural areas
Washlands
Flood plain zoning
Channelisation
Dams and reservoirs
Advantages of washlands
Create a large area for floodwater to go
Preserves the natural flood plain landscape
They are popular with all groups of people
Preserve parkland areas within an urban environment
Disadvantages of washlands
When washlands flood, they are not available for use by people
They are unnatural
Very expensive to build
Reduction in the space available for housing and industry
Advantages of flood plain zoning
The water can be use for hydro-electric power
Helps protect public buildings, such as schools
Preserves the natural flood plain
Reduces the number of homes at risk from flooding
Disadvantages of flood plain zoning
Restricts the growth of settlements
Very expensive
Increases the number of houses at risk from flooding
Reduction in the space available for industry
