Review of hard/soft methods of beach protection : the Capricorn Coast case study

The shore zone, which is the area most directly influenced by marine processes, interact and continuously shapes and modifies the physical features of the shore, including beaches and sand dunes. Coastal engineering, as a part of the civil engineering, concerns all engineering problems in coastal areas. Beach protection is one of the coastal engineering problems of wide concern to the community. This paper presents principles and modern trends in shoreline protection. Generally, long-term erosion problems occur due to littoral drift gradients. Based on the sediment transport capacity, the designer can attempt to design the proper defence system. There is now a tendency to avoid the construction of groynes, sea walls, etc. as long as possible. Most types of erosion problems can be solved by the proper “soft” solution. Based on this information, and in the light of the recent demands for proper coastal management the present situation, with respect to beach protection along the Capricorn Coast, is discussed briefly.