How Might Engineers Minimize the Implementation Gap in Coastal Risk Management?

Climate change and human development have increased the risk of coastal flooding and erosion damage driving demand for risk management – predominately by defending, adapting or retreating. Despite the efforts of engineers, managers and policy makers, implementation of risk management remains difficult. Many efforts are abandoned after initial conceptualization due to a variety of social, financial and institutional factors giving rise to ‘the implementation gap.’ This paper identifies actions of coastal engineers during key project phases which affect the likelihood of implementation. Fuzzy cognitive maps were created to enable a mixed-methods analysis of defence and retreat case studies from the United States and New Zealand. This analysis draws lessons learned that may inform future best practice.