Qualitative and Quantitative Characterization of Municipal Waste in Uncontrolled Dumpsites and Landfills Using Integrated Remote Sensing, Geological and Geophysical Data: A Case Study

Islam Abou El-Magd, Mohamed Attwa, Mohammed El Bastawesy, Ahmed Gad, Ahmed Henaish and Sara Zamzam
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Islam Abou El-Magd: Environmental Studies and Land Use Division, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, Cairo 11843, Egypt
Mohamed Attwa: Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
Mohammed El Bastawesy: Geology Applications and Mineral Resources Division, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, Cairo 11843, Egypt
Ahmed Gad: Geology Applications and Mineral Resources Division, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science, Cairo 11843, Egypt
Ahmed Henaish: Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
Sara Zamzam: Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-26

Abstract: The conducted research offers an environmental assessment of municipal waste (MW) using remote sensing (RS), geological, and geophysical datasets. As a test site, the present study aims to characterize one of the largest uncontrolled dumpsites in Egypt. RS data analysis indicates that high temperature values are concentrated at the MW and landfill site allocations as a result of the decomposition process, leading to fire risks. Moreover, the geological and structural data draw attention to the structural-controlled old topography role on MW distributions. Consequently, the dumpsite MW has larger surface quantities near the downthrows of the mapped faults. For MW characterization, geophysical data are acquired to produce2D/3D resistivity models. Because MW has the ability to become soft clay, the municipal organic waste and landfill leachate resistivities are lower than that of municipal solid waste and sandy soils. The geophysical inversion results indicate that the maximum thickness of MW calibrating with the drilled borehole data is 60 m. Furthermore, the estimated MW dumpsite volume is about 42.32 MCM. Accordingly, the MW can be characterized in an accurate qualitative and quantitative manner. Our findings, therefore, help the efforts of uncontrolled dumpsite development and thus contribute to sustainability plans.

Keywords: landuse/landcover (LU/LC); electrical resistivity tomography (ERT); detailed topographical model (DTM); structural geology; environmental sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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