Abstract
The problem of environmental degradation and pollution resulting from quarry operations is becoming a critical problem. Therefore, the selection of optimal quarry sites is a prerequisite for safe operation and economic viability. The present study was carried out around Harer and Dire-Dawa towns to identify the optimal location of quarry sites by using an integrated AHP and GIS approaches. The selection was carried out by considering environmental and socio-economic factors. For each of the factors, appropriate classifications and criteria were formulated. Finally, a weighted overlay analysis was applied to produce the preliminary quarry site suitability map. About 136 km2 of the area is highly suitable, 1,587 km2 is moderately suitable, and 2,166 km2 has low suitability for quarry site. The approach followed by the study helped to narrow the area to the suitable sites that may further be studied through detailed field investigation. Hence, it can be adopted elsewhere as a guide for economical quarry site selection.
Highlights
The problem of environmental degradation and pollution resulting from quarry operation has been a threat to the inhabitants of most developing countries
For the evaluation and selection of suitable areas for quarry sites, seven factors were considered which include lithology, land-use and land-cover, distance to built-up areas, distance to water bodies, distance to road, relative relief and slope angle. These criteria and their classification and rating based on suitability are discussed below: 4.1.1
These are: (1) Basalt, (2) Limestone, Travertine, and Dolomite, (3) Granite, (4) Gneiss and Amphibolites, (5) Schist, Phyllites, Greenstone, Chert, Serpentinites, and Talc, (6) Detrital Sandstone, Conglomerates and Shales and (7) Lake sediment, Alluvium, and Elluvium products. This re-classification was mainly done based on the relative suitability of each lithological unit for the quarry site selection (Table 2)
Summary
The problem of environmental degradation and pollution resulting from quarry operation has been a threat to the inhabitants of most developing countries. Habitats outside the quarry site can be impacted indirectly by dust deposition, alteration of the water supplies, or as a result of run-off and siltation (Ogbonna et al, 2019). In most of the African nations, the selection of quarry sites and their operations and management does not take into account environmental sustainability (Darwish et al, 2011). The methods followed for resource extraction are poor and the site selection for quarrying is not made through systematic methods. Very often, this leads to land collapse, land conversion, environmental
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