An Assignment on

Coastal Zone Management:

Hard & Soft Engineering
Assignment submitted in requirement of partial fulfillment of the syllabus for
4th Year 7th Semester BS. (Hon’s.) in Oceanography

Submitted To:
Mohammad Sofi Ullah
Professor
Department of Geography & Environment
University of Dhaka

Submitted By:
Md. Mahady Hasan Towhid
Roll No: FH-167-006
Department of Oceanography
University of Dhaka

Date of Submission: 20.07.2025

Introduction
Coastal zones worldwide are dynamic interfaces between land and sea, increasingly pressured
by natural processes like erosion and accretion, intensified by human activities and climate
change. These areas are vital for economies and ecosystems but are frequently impacted by
extreme events. A major global threat is sea-level rise, with projections estimating a 0.5–1
meter increase by 2100 under high-emission scenarios, highlighting the urgent need for
adaptive coastal management.[1]
Bangladesh, a low-lying deltaic nation, is particularly vulnerable due to its geography, flat
topography, and subtropical climate. Over 80% of its population is at risk from floods, cyclones,
droughts, and earthquakes. The 710 km coastline along the Bay of Bengal faces severe shoreline
migration, erosion, and accretion—driven by the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna River system and
tidal dynamics.[1] Challenges include sea-level rise, cyclones, coastal pollution, erosion, saltwater
intrusion, and mangrove degradation. Saltwater intrusion, in particular, threatens agriculture,
food security, and coastal livelihoods dependent on fishing, farming, and tourism.
Satellite data and historical records show ongoing, unpredictable shoreline changes, with net
land gains (e.g., 237 km² from 1985–2015 and 73.94 km² from 1991–2021) alongside increasing
erosion, especially between 2006–2021. This growing erosion significantly affects coastal land
use and communities.[2]
Coastal management in Bangladesh uses two main approaches:
 Hard engineering, involving artificial structures (e.g., seawalls, embankments) to absorb
wave energy and reduce erosion and flooding. These are often costly, short-term
solutions that may disrupt natural sediment transport and worsen conditions elsewhere.
[3]

 Soft engineering, which works with natural processes (e.g., mangrove restoration),
offering more sustainable and eco-friendly long-term protection.[3]
Effective management requires timely and accurate monitoring. Geospatial technologies, such
as Remote Sensing and GIS, are essential for tracking shoreline dynamics, assessing
vulnerability, planning interventions, and enabling informed decision-making.
This report examines the hard and soft engineering techniques used in Bangladesh’s coastal
management, evaluating their effectiveness and impacts, with a special focus on the role of GIS
in supporting these efforts.

Hard Engineering in Coastal Management

Definition and Principles
Hard engineering involves constructing rigid, man-made structures to protect coastlines by
absorbing or deflecting wave energy, aiming to prevent erosion and flooding. The core principle
is to disrupt natural coastal processes to safeguard human settlements, agriculture, or
economically important areas.[4]
Advantages
 Provides immediate, visible protection for vulnerable communities.
 Structures like seawalls can include promenades, boosting tourism and the local
economy.
 Offshore breakwaters reduce wave energy and preserve beach appearance by limiting
longshore drift.[4]
Disadvantages
 High construction and maintenance costs.
 Often short-term solutions due to their fixed design in a dynamic environment.
 Visually intrusive and can alter natural coastal landscapes.
 Disrupt sediment transport (longshore drift), leading to erosion in adjacent areas.
 May block beach access and cause scouring at their base (e.g., recurved seawalls).
 Can damage habitats and reduce sediment input.
 Some structures (e.g., groynes) may fail during severe storms; gabions can degrade and
harm marine life.[4]
Common Techniques
Several distinct techniques fall under the umbrella of hard engineering:
 Groynes: These are wooden or rock barriers constructed perpendicular to the shoreline.
Their primary function is to trap sand and pebbles transported by longshore drift,
thereby encouraging the accumulation of a wider beach. A wider beach, in turn, helps
absorb wave energy, effectively reducing the rate of cliff erosion.[5]
 Seawalls: These are robust, often vertical or recurved, structures typically built along the
front of cliffs or settlements. They are designed to provide a strong, impenetrable barrier
against direct wave impact, thereby protecting the land and infrastructure behind them.
Recurved designs are specifically engineered to reflect wave energy back onto itself,
dissipating its force.[5]
  Revetments: These are sloping structures, commonly constructed from materials like
wood or concrete, and are placed at the base of cliffs or along the back of beaches. They
are designed to absorb and dissipate wave energy as waves break against them, offering
a less intrusive alternative to vertical seawalls.[5]
 Gabions: These consist of wire cages filled with rocks or broken concrete, placed at the
back of sandy beaches or along eroding banks. As water enters these cages, wave energy
is absorbed and dissipated by the contained material.[5]
 Rock Armour (Rip-Rap): This technique involves placing large, irregularly shaped rocks
or boulders along the base of cliffs or at the toe of embankments. The irregular surface
of the rock armour dissipates wave energy, reducing erosion and protecting the
underlying land.[5]
 Breakwaters: These are large concrete blocks and boulders strategically located
offshore. Their purpose is to change the direction of incoming waves and reduce their
energy before they reach the shoreline, thereby minimizing longshore drift and helping
beaches retain a more natural appearance.[5]
Existing and Future Hard Engineering Projects in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has long relied on hard engineering, especially embankments and revetments, to
protect its vulnerable coast. The Coastal Embankment Plan (CEP) launched in the 1960s led to
the construction of extensive earthen embankments and later, concrete revetments. [6]
A major ongoing initiative is the Coastal Embankment Improvement Project Phase 1 (CEIP-1),
approved in 2013 with World Bank support. It focuses on rehabilitating and upgrading polders
to reduce tidal flooding, storm surge impacts, and saltwater intrusion, thereby boosting
agricultural productivity and livelihoods.[1] By December 2021, CEIP-1 had upgraded 250 km of
embankments across 10 polders in 6 districts, protecting 41,600+ hectares of land and over
402,000 people, with an emphasis on women's climate resilience. [1] The project also established
Water Management Groups and Associations for sustainable system maintenance. CEIP-1 is the
first phase of a larger program to upgrade the country’s 6,000 km embankment network across
139 polders.[1]
Concrete revetments, especially in high-erosion zones, have become key protective structures.
In the Lower Meghna estuary (Kamalnagar and Ramgati, Lakshmipur), two major sloped
concrete revetments—Revetment A (0.9 km, 2018) and Revetment B (3.2 km, 2017)—were
highly effective, achieving near 100% erosion reduction in protected areas.[6]
However, their impacts extend beyond protected zones. Initially, downstream sites faced more
erosion, but after construction, upstream areas experienced relatively higher erosion, reflecting
typical side effects of hard engineering. 75% of upstream residents believed revetments
worsened erosion in unprotected areas, compared to 35.3% of downstream residents. [6] This
shift, despite lower absolute erosion upstream, indicates socio-economic tensions due to
relative differences in erosion benefits.
Additional concerns include damage reports (e.g., Revetment A) and the high cost of extending
revetments along the entire coast, raising questions about long-term feasibility and
environmental sustainability.
Soft Engineering in Coastal Management
Definition and Principles
Soft engineering refers to sustainable coastal management techniques that work with natural
processes to reduce erosion, enhance water quality, and promote biodiversity. It involves using
organic materials—like vegetation, stones, sand, and debris—to stabilize shorelines, restore
habitats, and improve coastal aesthetics at lower ecological and economic costs.[7]
Key principles include:
 Sustainability – environmentally sound methods
 Adaptability – allowing for natural changes
 Minimal intervention – only, when necessary, with the least environmental disruption
Due to their eco-friendly and cost-effective nature, these techniques are becoming increasingly
popular.[7]
Advantages
 Lower long-term cost and maintenance compared to hard engineering
 Environmentally sustainable and adaptable to changing conditions
 Retain the natural appearance of coastlines and enhance aesthetics
 Improve resilience to erosion and flooding
 Naturally filter water and restore habitats, boosting biodiversity
 Provide ecosystem services, such as food sources and support for local livelihoods
Disadvantages
 Can cause erosion elsewhere, e.g., through offshore dredging in beach nourishment
 Slower to show effectiveness compared to hard structures
 Less suitable in high-energy or rapidly eroding zones without hybrid support
 Vegetation-based solutions require time to establish and ongoing maintenance,
especially post-storm
Common Techniques
Several effective techniques are employed in soft engineering:
 Beach Nourishment: This involves replenishing eroded beaches by pumping or trucking
in sand and shingle to increase their height and width. This wider beach then acts as a
natural defense, absorbing wave energy and providing protection from erosion and
flooding. It also enhances coastal protection, boosts tourism, and helps restore habitats.
[8]

 Wetland Restoration: This technique focuses on re-establishing natural hydrological

processes and removing invasive species in degraded wetland areas. Wetlands are
crucial for natural filtration, improving water quality, and supporting biodiversity. They
function as natural buffers, trapping sediments and pollutants, and enhance resilience to
climate change.[8]
 Dune Stabilization: This involves planting vegetation and using other methods to
prevent dune erosion. Coastal dunes act as natural barriers against storm surges,
reducing flooding and erosion. Techniques include dune grass planting to trap sand and
stabilize dunes, dune thatching (covering dunes with plant debris) to encourage sand
accretion, and dune fencing to reduce wind speed and promote sediment deposition.
These methods protect the coastline, create habitats for flora and fauna, and act as
natural barriers against storms.[8]

Existing and Future Soft Engineering Projects in Bangladesh

Mangrove Afforestation has been a central element of Bangladesh’s soft engineering strategy
since 1966, initiated by the Forest Department after recognizing the protective role of the
Sundarbans mangrove forests during cyclones. Over 120,000 hectares of mangroves have been
planted outside coastal embankments in districts such as Patuakhali, Barisal, Noakhali, and
Chittagong.[9] These plantations act as natural barriers against cyclones and tidal surges,
promote the formation of new land (chars), and reduce erosion. Beyond physical protection,
mangroves enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and support livelihoods through
ecosystem services such as food and habitat provision. Community involvement, especially of
women in regions like Padmapukur, has been vital in nursery development and plantation
efforts, adding a socio-economic dimension to these initiatives.[9]
Beach Nourishment has not yet been implemented on a large scale in Bangladesh, but it is
gaining attention as a viable semi-engineering solution. In 2023, coastal experts inspecting
erosion in Cox’s Bazar recommended regular beach nourishment alongside natural and hard
protective measures.[10] The approach is considered valuable for maintaining beach width and
absorbing wave energy, which are essential for minimizing the impact of coastal erosion and
storms.[10]
Dune Stabilization is also emerging as an important method of soft coastal defense, particularly
in Cox’s Bazar where dunes act as sand reserves and buffers against high tides and storm surges.
Stabilization efforts involve the strategic reintroduction of native vegetation. Experts
recommend starting with creeping plants like Sagor Lata, followed by shrubs such as Nishida,
Keya, and Akanda, and eventually planting trees like Hijol, Tamal, and Jhau (Casuarina). [10] Sagor
Lata is especially effective due to its extensive root network, while Casuarina, often used
incorrectly as a primary species, is vulnerable to being uprooted by strong tides. Since the
1960s, the Forest Department has implemented coastal afforestation on dunes in Cox’s Bazar
and Patuakhali, and recent projects such as the Coastal Towns Climate Resilience Project (2023–
2029) and NABAPALLAB are expanding nature-based solutions, including dune vegetation, to
enhance climate resilience.[10]
Multipurpose Disaster Shelter Project (MDSP), though primarily infrastructure-based, aligns
with the goals of soft engineering by increasing community resilience. Implemented since 2015
with World Bank support, MDSP had completed 166 new shelters and 50 kilometers of all-
weather access roads by December 2021.[1] These shelters protect over 589,400 people and
40,600 livestock during cyclones and also function as primary schools, improving learning
conditions for more than 150,000 children. [1]Their proven performance during disasters makes
them a crucial component of Bangladesh’s coastal adaptation and disaster risk management
framework.[1]

Conclusion:
1. Islam, M.T., et al., Climate change impacts on shoreline migration and community livelihood
resilience: Evidence from coastal Bangladesh. Frontiers in Sustainability, 2025. 5-2024: p. 1-13.
2. Shamsuzzoha, M. and T. Ahamed, Shoreline Change Assessment in the Coastal Region of
Bangladesh Delta Using Tasseled Cap Transformation from Satellite Remote Sensing Dataset.
Remote Sensing, 2023. 15(2): p. 295.
3. Lyth, L., Critically discuss, using international case studies, the comparative advantages and
limitations of 'hard' and 'soft' engineering approaches to coastal protection and defence. 2012.
4. Esteves, L., Managed realignment: A viable long-term coastal management strategy? 2014.
5. van Onselen, V., et al., Coastal Hazards Management: Hard Engineering Solutions along the
Taiwanese and Vietnamese Coastline - Unintentional Consequences and Future Humanitarian
Engineering Implications. 2022. p. 77-97.
6. Crawford, T.W., et al., Coastal Erosion and Human Perceptions of Revetment Protection in the
Lower Meghna Estuary of Bangladesh. Remote Sensing, 2020. 12(18): p. 3108.
7. Fiselier, J., Soft Engineering for Coastal Protection: Natural Hazard Regulation. 2018. p. 1245-
1252.
8. Sundar, V., S.A. Sannasiraj, and S.R. Babu, Sustainable hard and soft measures for coastal
protection – Case studies along the Indian Coast. Marine Georesources & Geotechnology, 2022.
40(5): p. 600-615.
9. Saenger, P. and N. Siddiqi, Land from the sea: The mangrove afforestation program of
Bangladesh. Peter Saenger, 1993. 20.
10. Mitra, M.C., A. Rahman, and S. Bin-Shafique, Erosion of kuakata beach and its protection by
beach nourishment. Proceedings of the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference,
2013: p. 1377-1382.