Joint Defra/EA Flood and coastal erosion risk management R&D Programme
Sustainable Asset Management Theme
Theme Manager - Chrissy Mitchell (Environment Agency)
Recent Theme Outputs
- August 2008 - Urban drainage interface with Operating Authorities (WAND re. Developers and AUDACIOUS re. Run off) (SC030219)
- August 2008 -Long term ecological monitoring of the managed realignment scheme at Tollesbury (FD1922)
- August 2008 -Understanding the lowering of beaches in front of coastal defence structures, stage 2 (FD1927)
- August 2008 - Understanding barrier beaches (FD1924)
- August 2008 - Impacts of permeability on beach performance (FD1923)
Further information is available for all ongoing and published research within this theme.
Background
The Sustainable Asset Management Theme addresses an integrated portfolio of activity covering the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renewal, upgrading, removal and/or replacement of flood and coastal erosion assets, and the systems that they comprise. Flooding covers fluvial, coastal, pluvial and groundwater sources, and coincident effects.
Assets include:
- conventional “defences” - such as embankments, barriers and pumping stations
- natural features – such as river channels, saltmarshes and beaches – that contribute to the flooding and erosion process
- temporary flood barriers
Assets will generally be managed by Operating Authorities, but we will consider the needs of private owners.
We are moving from the construction and maintenance of individual structures, watercourses and beaches to whole life asset management with the assessment of risk and performance in Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Systems. We shall aim to reduce whole life costs and improve performance whilst delivering overall sustainability.
Our vision is therefore that sustainable asset management will:
- ensure that flood and coastal erosion risk management infrastructure remains appropriate to the changing conditions in which it must contribute to the management of flood or coastal erosion risk
- over its service life minimise the loss of life due to flooding and provide best value
- enable assets to perform in an optimal manner – both under normal service conditions, and resiliently and predictably under extreme storm or flood events
- achieve the best outcome for people and both the natural and built environment.
Page last modified: 14 August 2008
Page published: 19 April 2004