Building Dikes May Costs Higher Than Its Initial Cost

An international team of scientists found on a global scale through their study that the economic and long – term benefits of constructing dikes to minimize flood damage far outweigh their initial cost. They also found that it is possible to reduce economic damage from river floods in the future.

Estimation was done by authors on how flood damage could be avoided if new dikes are build or already existing dikes are heightened. Then the assessment was done upon the cost of building these and their maintenance. A range of hydrological and economic models were used to weigh the costs of benefits enjoyed after building dikes.

This study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change which was led by Dr. Philip Ward from the Institute for Environmental Studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He said that if we ensure investments in flood protection measures then flood damages can actually be reduced.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: www.sciencedaily.com