On the physical aspects of the 'design with nature' principle in coastal management

Gao, S. and Collins, M. (1995) On the physical aspects of the 'design with nature' principle in coastal management. Ocean & Coastal Management, 26 (2), 163-175. (doi:10.1016/0964-5691(95)00013-R).

Abstract

‘Design with nature’ is one of the principles in coastal management practice. This study suggests that the stability of natural systems can be used as a criterion in implementing the principle in physical aspects. The criterion implies two requirements: (1) for any characteristics associated with equilibrium, human activities should not destruct the mechanisms which maintain the equilibrium state; and (2) for the characteristics which change constantly within the coastal system, the rate of changes caused by artificial activities, in addition to the natural changes, should be of the same order of magnitude as the original, long-term natural rate of evolution. Two examples are described, to demonstrate how these criteria are used. For a quay reconstruction scheme, associated with a tidal inlet system, an analysis shows that the planned changes will not disturb the equilibrium cross-sectional area of the inlet and the modification of the ebb tidal delta is small compared with the historical, natural changes. Therefore, such a scheme has been considered as environmentally feasible. For the dredging of sandbanks within an estuarine system, a maximum feasible output for sand extraction on the sandbanks is defined. Thus, intended aggregate outputs should be considered against such limits.

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