Analytical Modelling of MSW Landfill Surface Displacement Based on GNSS Monitoring.

Dana Adamcová,Grzegorz Pasternak,Eugeniusz Koda,Anna Podlasek,Piotr Osinski,Stanislav Bartoň,Magdalena Daria Vaverková

doi:10.3390/s20215998

Abstract

Displacements of landfills play an important role in the reclamation process and geotechnical safety improvement of such sites. Landfill settlements are defined as a vertical displacement of waste body due to compression, degradable nature of the waste, and creep phenomenon of the waste particles. Waste composition is more diverse than natural soil. Thus, it has to be properly placed and compacted since the landfill body will continuously settle down. Several models of the landfill displacement estimation have already been developed. The aim of the present study was: (i) to review the methods of landfill settlements computation and (ii) to propose the model allowing landfill body displacements simulation based on monitoring datasets applying a Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) measurement. The new model employs Gauss-Newton iteration and Runge-Kutta methods to estimate landfill surface displacements. The objectives were to analyse and mathematically describe the landfill body displacements. The GNSS geodetic survey and computations allowed concluding that the landfill body has been transformed over the years. The results revealed that the curves of waste displacement are in agreement with the measured total displacement of the landfill, and all curves corresponding to waste displacement are perpendicular to the active edge of the landfill. In the period of a maximum of 4.5 years after the waste deposition with a layer of up to 16.2 m thickness, the phenomenon of expansion was observed, which then disappears, and more settlement occurs due to the gravity of upper layers. The analysed landfill as a whole does not experience significant displacements. Neither of the slope failures are observed, even for large inclination.

Highlights

Landfills represent a method appropriate and acceptable for the municipal solid waste (MSW)disposal
McDougall [3] reported that, during the short-term observations, the presence of organic substances in the waste leads to the high compressibility of the landfill body
In the long-term scenarios, the main issue appears as a loss of waste matter caused by biodegradation of organic waste (OW) compounds of which the mechanical consequences have not been fully investigated yet [4]

Summary

Introduction

Landfills represent a method appropriate and acceptable for the municipal solid waste (MSW). Proper solid waste management (WM) is crucial for protecting both human health and a natural environment [1,2]. Waste disposal in landfills puts up short-term and long-term challenges to research due to mutual interactions of hydraulic, biodegradation, and mechanical phenomena in their environment. McDougall [3] reported that, during the short-term observations, the presence of organic substances in the waste leads to the high compressibility of the landfill body. In the long-term scenarios, the main issue appears as a loss of waste matter caused by biodegradation of organic waste (OW) compounds of which the mechanical consequences have not been fully investigated yet [4].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion