Geography GCSE
Soft Engineering
What Soft Engineering means in Geography GCSE, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Soft Engineering
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Managing the coast by working with natural physical processes, rather than using artificial structures.
Working with natural river processes to manage flood risk, such as afforestation and floodplain zoning.
Topics that use Soft Engineering
- Human activities can lead to changes in coastal landscapes which affect people and the environment (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- The UK's landscape challenges (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Hard Engineering
- Longshore Drift
- Managed Retreat
- Terminal Groyne Syndrome
- Afforestation
- Channel Straightening
- Coastal Recession
- Conservation
Using Soft Engineering in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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