The interface of land and water has always played an important role in human activities; settlements are often located at coasts, riverbanks and deltas. When the interface consists of rock, erosion is usually negligible, but finer material can make protection necessary. In a natural situation, the interface moves freely with erosion and sedimentation. A lot of cases remain where protection is useful. Along canals, rivers, estuaries, bank protection is often needed to withstand the loads caused by flow, waves or ships. Shore protection structures include seawalls, revetments, dikes and groynes. Bed protection is necessary where bottom erosion could endanger structures, like bridge piers, abutments, in-or outlets sluices or any other structures that let water pass through. An excellent reference for graduate students and professionals, Introduction to Bed, Bank and Shore Protection applies sound scientific principles and observations to the solution of engineering problems.
