Shefali Kundu, Geeta Dhania, Jitender Singh Laura
Abstract
Landfill site identification is a critical aspect of efficient solid waste management in urban areas, involving a multi-criteria approach to mitigate environmental degradation and risks to human health. Various studies have used multi-criteria decision making frameworks in combination with Geographical Information Systems to locate suitable landfill sites. However, the wind pattern which plays a significant role in dispersion of gases, odors and particulate matter, have frequently been undervalued or given minimal attention. The current study provides an original Geographical Information System-based approach that quantitatively incorporates wind speed, wind direction and calm days, in order to identify a suitable landfill site in Bhiwani city, Haryana, India. With the generation of nine grids covering the study area, the wind data were observed and analyzed for sixteen directions, subsequently integrated with other key criteria using weighted overlay in Arcmap software. With the least wind influence (6.98%) and least potential airborne pollutant dispersal to populated regions, Grid 6 was identified as the most suitable location for landfill establishment. The study demonstrates only the wind incorporation method and a wind driven map, not a final landfill site. As compared to prior studies where wind was considered qualitatively or neglected, the study illustrates that the proposed model quantitatively incorporates wind factors into a Multi-Criteria Decision Making approach, which offers a practical tool for decision makers and urban planners in similar environments.