A multi-attribute spatial decision support system for solid waste planning

Abstract

Solid waste planning addresses situations which involve a variety of factors such as economic costs, legislative requirements, land use, pollution generation, resource usage and equity in the number and demographics of people effected by a plan. In making decisions about solid waste systems, the trade-offs between these factors must be considered, leading to large amounts of data and information that must be organized and analyzed. Unfortunately, many municipal solid waste planners do not have the resources needed to manage all of the relevant information, leading to incomplete consideration of relevant factors, or satisficing in selecting an alternative. To assist in improving the solid waste decision-making process, a study of planning processes was completed, and a specific spatial decision support system (SDSS) developed to address the multi-attribute and geographical nature of solid waste systems. This is done by providing analytical tools both for developing plans and for evaluating a number of impacts associated with a plan. The SDSS includes expert systems and model management capabilities to supply, organize and analyze relevant data, and a GIS to help planners understand the spatial nature of particular programs and how they may impact the public and the environment.