Route Optimization of MSW Collection and Transport Using a GIS-Based Analysis on the Tourism Island

Pasicha Chaikaew

doi:10.22158/se.v3n3p197

Abstract

The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management on Si Chang Island is challenging in terms of its limited land resources, high cost of waste treatment, and seasonal fluctuations in waste volumes from tourists and shipping activities. There are sufficient waste bins available to cover MSW production on the island. The downside of the management is an inappropriate open dumping site that is prone to environmental pollution and health risk. However, resilience is shown in the implementation of an integrated approach of waste separation, composting, and incineration. This study developed a complete road network and applied a network analyst extension, which was useful in the area of optimization of MSW collection and transport. Two optimal routes were shown for MSW collection. Two vehicles were utilized to collect about 10 tons of MSW per day in two trips. A total travel distance for one-day transportation was 38.5 km. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from vehicles during MSW collection and transport was 0.85 g/km, accounting for 119 t CO2/yr.

Highlights

Between 2015 and 2016, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand revealed that Chonburi province recorded an almost 50% increase in visitors, tourists, and excursionists reaching 8,153,960 people
Considering an urgent circumstance under the database limitation on Si Chang Island, we aim to evaluate the sufficient number of bins to cover the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) production and create a complete road map across the island
Materials and Methods 2.1 Study Area and the Existing MSW Collection Si Chang Island is an archipelago located in the Upper Gulf of Thailand, about 12 km off the western shore of Sriracha district, Chonburi province (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Between 2015 and 2016, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand revealed that Chonburi province recorded an almost 50% increase in visitors, tourists, and excursionists reaching 8,153,960 people. Chang Island is one of the most attractive destinations, accounting for about 0.35% of the tourist population in the Chonburi province. A GIS-based approach for optimization of MSW collection provides considerable economic savings and environmental improvement through optimal distance, time, and pollutant emission reduction (Johansson, 2006; Tavares, Zsigraiova, Semiao, & Carvalho, 2009; Gilberto Tavares, Zsigraiová, Semião, & Carvalho, 2008). Ghose et al (2006) applied a GIS model for bin distribution, load balancing of vehicles and optimal routes for MSW collection in the Asansol municipality. Nuortio et al (2006) investigated the optimization of waste collection in Eastern Finland They found that a GIS helped reduce cost by 40% and route improvement by about 12%. Based on the map and field survey information, the optimal routes for MSW collection and transportation are determined along with the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the MSW collection and transportation

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion