Estimation of waste generation from floods

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Disaster management
• Civil engineering

Background:

• Floods generate significant waste, posing challenges for cleanup and resource management.
• Accurate estimation of flood waste is crucial for effective disaster response and urban planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a correlation framework for estimating flood waste generation.
• To identify key parameters influencing the volume of waste produced by floods.
• To propose a predictive model for flood waste management.

Main Methods:

• Collected flood waste data from four major typhoons in Taiwan.
• Analyzed parameters including population density, flooded area, and total rainfall.
• Developed and validated a statistical model using regression diagnostics.

Main Results:

• A simple linear model proved inadequate for correlating flood waste data.
• An exponential model demonstrated acceptable correlation across five orders of magnitude of waste data.
• Population density, flooded area, and rainfall were identified as significant correlating parameters.

Conclusions:

• The proposed exponential model provides a reliable method for estimating flood waste.
• This framework is valuable for pre-disaster planning and post-flood waste cleanup operations.
• The model can support resource allocation and logistical planning for disaster recovery efforts.