Coastal Asset Inspections
What are Asset Inspections?
Asset Inspections are undertaken along both
the open coast and harbour coastlines within the Coastal
Partnership area.
When undertaking the inspections, we note the
following items to assess the structure of the asset
and whether maintenance is required:
- Condition of the structure overall
- Condition of the worst element of the
structure
- Residual life (the length of time the
structure will provide defence if no work is done)
- Maintenance Urgency (an assessment of how
urgent maintenance is required on the structure so we can
prioritise work)
- Type of structure (so we know whether it is a
seawall, groyne, natural bank, revetment etc).
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| We also take general photos of the sea defence along with any
areas of concern so maintenance works can be actioned or
inform third parties if not maintained by the Local
Authority. The photographs are taken using a
GPS
enabled camera so when we
upload the photographs of the structures, we have an accurate
record of when and where the photograph was taken. |
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We gather this data on site using a
GPS
enabled
PDA
which means we can plot the
structures on
GIS
Mapping once we return
to the office, the
PDA
also holds the database of
the information which is gathered for each structure using a form
on the
PDA
.
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When do we do them?
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A full inspection is generally undertaken once
a year
where we visually inspect the coastline using
the
Environment Agency's 'Managing Flood Risk'
document.
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Why do we carry out Asset Inspections?
By undertaking these inspections we can assess
if there are areas which are more vunerable due to the poorer
condition of their defences or where maintenance is required to
minimise the flood risk so that they can be raised in the Local
Authority budget and the works be undertaken in planned
maintenance. Those structures in the poorest condition and with the
highest Maintenance Urgency have a report for proposed options for
works written up so that works can be assess so that the most
vunerbale areas are dealt with first.