Abstract

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Paper
Landfill Gas Extraction System Evaluation Using ArcGIS
Track: Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Author(s): Lea Anne Atwell

Landfill gas extraction systems are designed to collect gas generated by the degradation of putrescible solid waste. To evaluate the effectiveness of these systems, gas parameters are monitored on a weekly basis, resulting in large amounts of data to be managed and interpreted. Presenting this data in a meaningful and tangible way to our landfill owner/operator clients and regulators is an ongoing challenge. Historically, data have been presented in cumbersome charts and graphs. Using ArcGIS, data are now presented as rasters, displaying both the energy content of gas extracted and the locations from which gas is extracted. Discontinuous rasters are generated using a fixed radius around each location, which represents the assumed radius of influence of that component. GIS-generated energy extraction rate plans are powerful tools to guide gas extraction system operations, which in turn serves to increase the potential for additional gas delivery to landfill gas-to-energy facilities.

Lea Anne Atwell
Sanborn, Head & Associates
20 Foundry Street
Concord , NH 03275
US
Phone: (603) 415-6145
E-mail: latwell@sanbornhead.com