Protecting the coastline

Engineers at the University of Liverpool are conducting research to reduce the threat posed to homes and property by ocean waves.

Approximately 10% of people in England live in areas at risk from flooding or coastal erosion. In the absence of man-made defences such as sea walls, the annual damage to property and roads in these areas would exceed £2 billion.

Terry Hedges, from the University's Department of Civil Engineering has produced a computer model to assess volumes of water overtopping sea defences causing flooding, damage to property, roads and in some cases human fatality. His research will identify ways to minimise the amount of damage caused to coastal areas and measure the success of sea defences in protecting land and buildings.

"The computer model will allow us to determine combinations of conditions which are dangerous to vehicles, pedestrians and buildings as well as the sea wall itself. We will be able to predict, for example, under what particular wave conditions roads may need to be closed or, in severe circumstances, if people need to be evacuated from nearby areas. It will also allow us to analyse how vulnerable our sea defences are. Our findings may result in sea walls being raised,” said Hedges.