Geological Aspects of Seafront Construction and Management in the UK - Case Study Example

1 Geological Aspects of Seafront Construction and Management in UK Introduction Geology is a field of study focused about the Earth, the structures of which it is made, and the processes which acts or changes upon them over time. The study (Geology.com, 2008; p 1) encompasses also the study of organisms which have inhabited and interacts with the earth. Geological sciences according to California State University (2008) are the sciences which study Earth, its physical as well as chemical composition and history. This year is the “year of the environment”, and several environmentalists give focus on discussions about important component of the environment such as seas and oceans. Communities concerns about cause of continuous coastline erosion, oceanographic hazards, coastline modification, mining of aggregates in islands and vulnerability of shores to coastal erosion and other oceanographic hazards. Beaches in the UK area are not excepted from these threats. In the crown of Britains Bournemouth, premier tourist resorts are located. Today, there are about 5.2 million European, global and UK visitors who arrive in the town annually to enjoy the magnificent sweep of Poole Bay. In UK, no other beach draws so many visitors as these premier resorts. The seafront is extremely important leisure and recreational amenity particularly among local residents in the the areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch Poole Conurbation and outlying Hinterland (Bournemouth Borough Council, 2006; p 3). 2 2 2 Bournemouth Seafront Project The Bournemouth Borough Council serves as the steward of the several works ranging from commercial, public and voluntary stakeholders who find seafront as a significant economic driver for their town. The public is challenged to sustain their seafront both as a public amenity and a visitor attraction; at the same time preserving the fragile qualities of its environment. The Bournemouth Seafront has a local and global reputation which is family and customer-centered. The project envisioned to manage the project within the context of long term sustainability so the future generations can be provided with important public recreational amenity. The project is viewed as one with economic relevance of the seafront; comprises of volume attraction that can be achieved in a most environmentally effective and cost efficient manner (p 6). Bournemouth seafront can be seen with large infrastructure and diverse range of buildings that supported the use of beaches with 7 miles length set in a very harsh, natural yet changing environment. The management of this tourist spot is in partnership private and public sectors as well as volunteers. Geologic Profile of Bournemouth Seafront The leading selling point of the Bournemouth seafront is the Poole Bays environmental setting - clean seawater, cliff tops, visual impact of the cliffs, sheltered Chines and sandy beaches. The cliffs comprise of layered sand, gravel, clays and sandy clays lodged by rivers and consist if unique diverse fossilized tropical plants as well as flora. The water percolates freely that flows on the clay layers which form lubricated planes (Bournemouth Bourough Council, 2006). 3 Managing Seafronts Physical Environment Engineers have massive works with the cliffs in the last century and the bulk of the labor included installing drainage, re-profiling the cliffs and extensive planting in order to aid bind the cliffs together. There are observations however, that excessive vegetation in some perimeters are now weakening the cliffs at the same time overwhelming endangered native species and wildlife. Initially, there are over 331 plant species located on the cliff, majority of these plants are well rooted trees and bushes; some others are a mixture of imported introductions and native plant species. Other important components of the physical set up include the common lizards, rare sand, smooth snakes, bees, grass hoppers, rare varieties of butterflies, and other invertebrates. In addition, scrub, ruderal, coarse grass, dune grasses heath, bracken, short grass, tall herbs and bare sandy cliffs all together provide important various habitats for the aforementioned which contributed to the cliffs stabilisation. Geologic Activities of Engineers in Bournemouth Seafront Beginning 1960’s engineers and other workers installed cliffs storm water drainage systems to improve the stability of the cliffs. While Groynes lessened the impact of littoral drift as well as the beach that has been artificially recharged, in order to prevent further erosion in the coastal areas and can maintain the amenity beaches. Testing for the seawater quality is conducted on a regular basis at seven different locations. Other than that surveys and some monitoring programmes for living organisms are also being conducted (Bournemouth Bourough Council, 2006). 4 Let it be underscored that the field of engineering play a very essential role in Bournemouth Seafront tourism and business industry. Civil Engineering indeed is one of the fields with broad scope that ranges from the design and construction of structures, roadways as well as pollution control processes to the management of the natural and engineered resources. The field has been directed to divide into number of sub-disciplines that include structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, materials, construction management, and water resources engineering. Civil engineering takes out some disciplines including ecology, geology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, material science, economics, statistics and mathematics (Roby, K and Ganter, S., 2000). Furthermore, the administrators also ensure that significant geological features are practically exposed and re-exposed if required. Interpretation regarding the ecological and geological information of the cliffs are also collected. The Wessex Water, Environment Agency, Bourne Stream Partnership and other agencies work together to improve bathing water quality. In specific, review process are done on the options intended for Bournemouth & Boscombe surface water for drainage outflow pipes. General Operations The technical team who works for the resort install seafront offices and small toilet blocks like solar technology, micro wind turbines that can reduce energy consumption. The engineers have adopted the trial renewable energy initiatives. This is to promote energy conservation, at the same time use renewable technologies through partnership with energy companies, interpretation displays, events and sponsorship by other 5 commercial operators as well as community groups. These functions are very importantly since it provides the main defense at sea as well as stabilisation of the cliff structure; and/or conduit for services like the sewerage. According to the Council, because of the harsh or rough seafront environment, considerable maintenance and management is required for the promenade, in order to keep it free from sand, and also from sea debris on a day-to-day basis. In the next few years, promenade will also implement major resurfacing, so to settle a particular problem based in Bournemouth Pier Approach. Buildings and Structures Over the past 20 years, several commercial buildings have successfully been established and the the contractors, who are competent engineers are responsible for the building maintenance; often with a long lease just to ensure that they can develop a business which is able to give pay back or return on the huge investment. They Initiate a trial scheme to supply a limited electrical power to specific block of beach chalets, by way of applying renewable energy technology. Momentarily, if the team proves the scheme success, it shall be rolled further proceeding towards other blocks and cable for data connection will be installed as well. The resort investigates demand for the provision of the popular WiFi technology to areas or sections of the seafront and chalets. They said, there will also be development of Asset Management Plan for all of the seafront structures, buildings and promenades, but funding strategies for the project must be first determined. 6 Road Access Minor roads serve Beaches throughout the West of Bournemouth Pier for day visitors. This is often the means of weaving through urban and the residential roads to get all the way to Boscombe and Southbourne; other directional signage could still be improved for visitors who are going out of town. The tarmac promenade was constructed and gives an excellent convenient way to travel along one side of Bournemouth going to the other route. This is well used by walkers and cyclists. Aside from the fact that the beach area has well designed roadways, seafront area has been conveniently enhanced to increase accessibility on the beach. This action is an offshoot to the spirit of the Disability Discrimination Act that paved way in the increasing accessibility to the resorts facilities. Engineers maintained encompassing footpaths, zig zag paths, existing public rights of way, Chines, and steps. Furthermore, the engineers helped in promoting and building sustainable transport for the visitors to the beach. They have also increased capacity by evaluating the beach park as well as ride scheme for the peak summer season. They are working closely with the local transport residents and providers; encourage cycling on the permitted times in cooperation with Poole Borough Council so that a consistent cycle policy can be delivered (Bournemouth Bourough Council, 2006). The business tourism industry certainly would not have flourished without the advancement stock which grew from leisure tourism and developed around the seafront offer. Business investors, building designers, Managers and Construction workers recognized that in developing and managing a major tourist destination, it is very important that he highest standards be achieved in all dimensions through setting out 7 appropriate policy strategies for Quality of Travel, Quality of the Public Realm, Quality of Attractions, Quality of Promotion, Quality of Food and Drink and most of all Quality of Geologic and Physical Structures. Finally, the field of geology will prepare individuals towards a future that has wide variety of careers. It offer choices that include however, not limited to the environmental pollution remediation, consulting industry, environmental law or public policy, a career in education, one career in research (that may be based in a government agency or private firm or an academic institution), work abroad that engage in Foreign Service, NASA, National Park Service or Peace Corps, US Air Force, resource management or exploration, outdoor education, computer systems and remote sensing. References California State University. 2008. Geology. Department of Geological Sciences. Fullerton McCarthy Hall 254 Geology.com 2008. “What is geology? - what does a geologist do?what does a geologist do? Retrieved fromhttp://geology.com/articles/what-is-geology.shtml Geology Stage 1 and Stage 2 Curriculum Statements, 2002. SACE Board of South Australia, 60 Greenhill Road, Wayville, South Australia 5034. Roby, K. and Ganter, S. 2000. “Geologist”. CRAFTY Curriculum Foundations Project Workshop Organizers Clemson University, p 57-58. Bournemouth Bourough Council, 2006. “Seafront Strategy 2007-2011”. Leisure Services. Read More