In some cases, shorelines or infrastructure require protection from flooding, wave impact and erosion. Protection can range from soft solutions involving vegetation and sediment management to conventional hard structures or hybrid combinations of the two. Seawalls and bulkheads provide protection with minimum footprint; revetment can protect the shore while providing habitat. Hybrid structures can be buried or designed to mimic the natural environment.
Like many coastal engineering projects, coastal structure design requires expertise in hydraulic, geotechnical, structural engineering, as well as planning and permitting.