Environmental monitoring of landfill sites using multi-temporal remote sensing images

In this study, multi-temporal Landsat images obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey are used to monitor two landfill sites, the Trail Road landfill (Ottawa, Canada) and the Al-Jleeb landfill (Al-Farwanyah, Kuwait). The objectives are: 1) to study the land surface temperature (LST) of the two landfill sites; 2) investigate the relationship between the LST and landfill gas in the Trail Road landfill; and 3) detect suspicious dumping areas within the Al-Jleeb landfill. It was found that the LST of the landfill sites are always higher than the air temperature and the immediate surroundings. The correlation between the LST and the methane recorded in the Trail Road landfill is not obviously strong, and five suspicious locations were identified within the Al-Jleeb landfill by overlaying the highest LST contours. The study demonstrates the usefulness of remote sensing techniques that can provide supplementary information for landfill monitoring

Environmental monitoring of landfill sites using multi-temporal remote sensing images

In this study, multi-temporal Landsat images obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey are used to monitor two landfill sites, the Trail Road landfill (Ottawa, Canada) and the Al-Jleeb landfill (Al-Farwanyah, Kuwait). The objectives are: 1) to study the land surface temperature (LST) of the two landfill sites; 2) investigate the relationship between the LST and landfill gas in the Trail Road landfill; and 3) detect suspicious dumping areas within the Al-Jleeb landfill. It was found that the LST of the landfill sites are always higher than the air temperature and the immediate surroundings. The correlation between the LST and the methane recorded in the Trail Road landfill is not obviously strong, and five suspicious locations were identified within the Al-Jleeb landfill by overlaying the highest LST contours. The study demonstrates the usefulness of remote sensing techniques that can provide supplementary information for landfill monitoring

Impact of Protective Barriers on Groundwater Quality

The storage yard’s leak-proof protection should be achieved by means of independent protective barriers in the form of geological barriers, artificial sealing layers, mineral soil liners and covers, as well as sidewall sealing. Some years ago, construction and exploitation of landfill sites in Poland took place without any guidelines and legal regulations. Landfills, especially situated in rural areas, were quite often constructed directly on the grounds, e.g. in former aggregate excavations, without any protection. Examples of the municipal landfills, located in the sites of adverse geological conditions were presented in this paper. The effect of existence or absence of geological barriers on the groundwater quality was carried out. In tested landfills, higher concentrations of groundwater pollution indicators were found in landfill monitoring wells located on the outlet of these waters, in comparison to the landfill monitoring wells located on their supply. In the case of the landfills situated directly on the soils of high hydraulic conductivity, the indicators of negative influence of deposited landfills increased even after the closing of the landfill sites. Subsurface water-bearing layer is a kind of “indicator” giving information about the harmful effect of landfills on the environment, and the need to take remedial actions.