Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) assets within England and Wales are worth approximately £20bn (replacement value).
In order to continue to provide protection to people from flooding and erosion in the most cost efficient manner, knowledge of how flood and coastal erosion assets deteriorate and how best to maintain them to maximise performance and asset life is necessary.
This project developed and implemented a targeted data collection and monitoring programme to facilitate the gathering of information on asset deterioration and the cost effectiveness of different maintenance strategies for key FCRM assets in the longer term. The specific types of asset surveyed were vertical walls, sloping walls, embankments and timber groynes.
Future phases of the project will develop and test Practical Asset Management models and tools for use in predicting asset deterioration rates and for undertaking whole life cost/cost benefit analysis. This will ultimately lead on to publication of updated practical guidance.
Further details about the project can be found on this Environment Agency Science Summary Sheet.