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Optimal siting of solid waste-to-value-added facilities through a GIS-based assessment
Md Mohib-Ul-Haque Khan1, Mahdi Vaezi1, Amit Kumar1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, 10-263 Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 1H9, Canada.
The Science of the Total Environment
|August 30, 2017
Summary
This study developed a methodology using GIS and AHP to find optimal locations for waste conversion facilities. The research identified suitable sites in Alberta, Canada, considering waste availability and environmental factors.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Spatial Analysis
Background:
- Siting waste conversion facilities requires evaluating waste availability and environmental, social, and economic factors.
- A systematic methodology is needed to integrate these complex criteria for effective facility location.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a methodology for locating suitable sites for waste conversion facilities.
- To consider both waste availability and environmental/social constraints in the site selection process.
Main Methods:
- Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis to identify suitable and unsuitable areas.
- Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for multi-criteria evaluation of environmental and social factors.
- Location-allocation analysis to determine optimal facility placements.
Main Results:
- A province-wide waste availability assessment in Alberta identified 4,077,514 tonnes/year of waste from 79 landfills.
- GIS and AHP successfully screened lands and evaluated preferences for environmental and social factors.
- Suitable locations for 10 waste conversion facilities were determined across Alberta.
Conclusions:
- The developed methodology effectively integrates waste availability with environmental and social constraints for facility siting.
- The study provides a replicable model for strategic placement of waste conversion infrastructure.
- Optimized facility locations can enhance waste management efficiency and sustainability.
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