Environmental design of low crested coastal defence structures.

The present guidelines are specifically dedicated to Low Crested Structures on attempt to provide methodological tools both for the engineering design of structures and for prediction of performance and environmental impacts of such structures. It is anticipated that the guidelines will provide valuable inputs to coastal zone management plans. The target audience for this set of guidelines is consulting engineers or engineering officers and officials of local authorities dealing with coastal protection schemes. The guidelines are also of relevance in providing a briefing of current best practice for local and national planning authorities, statutory agencies and other stakeholders in the coastal zone. The guidelines have been drafted in a generic way to be appropriate throughout the European Union taking into regard current European Commission policy and directives to promote sustainable development and integrated coastal zone management.