Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Models Based on Geographic Information Systems in Locating Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites (Case Study: Bushehr Province)

Abstract

Background and Objective: Todays, due to the expansion of cities, large quantities of industrial and hazardous materials are produced, which, in order to prevent its long-term and dangerous effects on human and environmental communities, selecting the best site for these wastes has become one of the complex decisions in urban management action. Because of numerous industrial units, especially refineries, in Bushehr province, it is essential to find a management solution for hazardous wastes of this province. Finding the optimal location using multi-criteria decision models based on GIS that has both the lowest environmental risks and economically optimal, is the main goal of this article. Method: In this study, 24 parameters were used to analyze the selection of hazardous waste disposal sites based on the Delphi method in Bushehr province. Selected criteria were divided into two ecological and economic categories and ANP method was used to weight the criteria. At the final stage, suitable sites for these wastes were determined based on the GIS-based WLC method. Findings: The results showed that ecological criteria had the highest score (61/34%) and land use had the highest weight (0/27) and evaporation of the lowest weight (0/0017). Also, 6/13% of the province has a very high potential and 17/7% of the surface area is completely inappropriate for the disposal of hazardous wastes. Discussion and Conclusion: Study results highlighted the importance and significant weight of environmental criteria in prioritizing the proposed areas for hazardous disposal in Bushehr province, and has shown the model's efficiency in integrating GIS and MCDM.