Determination of Empirical Environmental Indices for the Location of Cemeteries—An Innovative Proposal for Worldwide Use

Tania Crisanto-Perrazo, Jonathan Guayasamín-Vergara, Eduardo Mayorga-Llerena, Izar Sinde-Gonzalez, Diego Vizuete-Freire, Theofilos Toulkeridis, Geomara Flores Gomez and Greta Fierro-Naranjo
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Tania Crisanto-Perrazo: Department of Earth Sciences and Construction, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N y Ambato, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Jonathan Guayasamín-Vergara: Department of Earth Sciences and Construction, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N y Ambato, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Eduardo Mayorga-Llerena: Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Av. Francisco Viteri and Gato Sobral, Quito 170129, Ecuador
Izar Sinde-Gonzalez: Department of Earth Sciences and Construction, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N y Ambato, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Diego Vizuete-Freire: Instituto Superior Tecnológico Sucre, Higher Technology in Environmental Management, Av. 10 de Agosto N26-27 y Luis Mosquera Narvaéz, Quito 170129, Ecuador
Theofilos Toulkeridis: Department of Earth Sciences and Construction, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N y Ambato, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Geomara Flores Gomez: Department of Earth Sciences and Construction, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N y Ambato, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Greta Fierro-Naranjo: Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Environmental Research and Control Center, Av. Ladrón de Guevara 253, Quito 170525, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Cemeteries are a source of environmental contamination, as they hold hundreds of human corpses in different stages of decomposition. Therefore, the current research developed a new tool, which is easily applied, to determine the potential environmental contamination generated by current cemeteries within their ecosystems. The linear equations developed, with a number of variables between 10 and 3, allow for obtaining empirical indices to evaluate the suitability of a site, regardless of the geographical area in which it is located, through a variety of sources. In order to obtain the equations and, therefore, the indices, a hierarchy was performed using the Saaty matrix. With such a matrix, different ranges of affectation were established for each variable and relative values were assigned that cover all probabilities quantitatively, from the least probable to the most likely. With the linear equations, three verification runs were conducted, obtaining satisfactory results compared with the location map of cemeteries obtained in previous studies. These equations will constitute a tool of fundamental use for local governments, which will allow for the evaluation of existing cemeteries and use of the methodology described in preliminary analysis, to save resources and have a starting point for an efficient land use plan.

Keywords: empirical indices; cemeteries location; environmental contamination; Saaty matrix; land use plan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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