Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Fills (earthwork)'

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2005.
Typescript. "A thesis [submitted] as partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Science degree in Biology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-61).

We are a culture of material consumption. We have created a cycle of extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal that perpetuates our consumptive behavior. Our culture, way of life and economy is also hinged upon this process. We have created and enacted myths that provide reasoning, support and even a need for the continuation of this lifestyle. The byproduct, as well as the foundation for this culture, is the landfill. This thesis will explore the space created by the centralized concentration of garbage and the associated myths. This thesis will also show the necessity for a new myth and outline a new vision for the landfill encompassing the man-made landscape of this culture's discarded belongings. This project will shed light upon both the beautiful potential and decay that constitutes our landfill.

Shenzhen is a fast growing modern city. In 1980, Shezhen was just a fishing village. With the urbanization, it extended land inside. In 2000, Shenzhen land use has already exploited 80%. With the urbanization, there are many migrant workers go to work and settle down in Shenzhen. The population grow up from 314,100to 10,357,938 in these thirty years. With the population growth, the problem is the garbage production volume increase more and more. Now, Shenzhen garbage production is 13,100t/d and the annual growth rate is 8%. There are 8 districts in Shenzhen, which is Nanshan, Futian, Baoan, Luohu, Yantian, Longgang, Guangming and Pingshan district. Nanshan, Futian and Luohu district are downtown of Shenzhen. The other districts are still in developing process. In Shenzhen, there are 9 existing landfills and 7 existing incineration plants and 23 small informal landfills. With the urbanization, the relationship between landfills and city are changing. At the beginning, landfills were set far away the city. Their distance become closer and closer when both of them extended. Until now, some of landfills has connected and existed in the middle of city. For the land use situation of shenzhen. There are 80% land use has already been exploited which means there is no more land for landfill in the future. However, the garbage volume increasing more and more and landfill is still the main way to treat garbage. It is a very serious issue need to face and solve. The garbage structure of shenzhen is, construction waste occupied 78% and 22% belongs to domestic waste. In this 22% domestic waste, food waste occupied 65%. Food waste is the biggest problem of pollution. However, the existing domestic waste treatment is still dumping the mix garbage to landfill. When food waste mix with the other domestic waste together, they will decompose and the produce a lot of biogas and dioxin and so on. It will produce serious air pollution, soil pollution and produce germs. That is why the existing landfill produce so serious pollution to the city. In other aspect, food waste is a good energy if we use it correctly. It could change to energy and fertilizer by biogas collecting, composting and chang to diesels. In Shenzhen, the government has already pay attention to garbage separation. Some communities has already implement garbage separation action. These are 3 large landfill of Shenzhen. The first one is Xiaping landfill of Luohu, the second one is Laohukeng landfill of Baoan and the yahoo landfill of Pingshan district. Base on the location situation, Yahoo landfill will be a best choice to make it as an experimental plot to plan. In Yahoo landfill, the existing landfill has already influenced thirty thousand surrounding people’s life. In future, the extension landfill will connect to the the residents area and polluted more seriously. So how to maximum reduce the pollutions is a urgent problem need to solve. The strategy is separating two part to solve garbage in this landfill. One for dumping, the other one is food waste composting. When the food waste composted to fertilizer, it will be transported to the surround farm lands to use.
published_or_final_version
Architecture
Master
Master of Landscape Architecture

The research focuses on public opposition to the extension of South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong. The phenomenon of opposing undesirable facilities sitings is described as the “Not in my backyard (NIMBY)” syndrome in literature and the popular media. SENT Landfill is expected to reach its saturation capacity before 2016 but the public opposition has been fierce to prohibit the extension proposal. The objectives of this study is to identify how the public in Tseung Kwan O perceive the landfill extension proposal, reasons for opposing the extension and potential measures to resolve the conflicts. A questionnaire survey was adopted to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data. One-hundred fifty samples were collected from each sampling area. A total of four-hundred fifty samples were collected among three sampling areas in Tseung Kwan O. It was found that residents who live in Lohas Park are strongly against the proposal of SENT landfill extension due to the close proximity of Lohas Park to the landfill. Respondents with higher levels of knowledge about the landfill extension issue have a higher chance to accept the proposal. It was concluded that the residents in Tseung Kwan O are mostly unsatisfied with inadequate or ineffective public involvement in the existing policy-making process. The government should consider dropping its centralized planning approach and reforming current information-giving channels. Officials should also make efforts to enhance their credibility by cooperating with environmental NGOs.
published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis (M.C.E.)--University of Delaware, 2009.
Principal faculty advisors: Dov Leshchinsky and Christopher L. Meehan, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 157 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 128-132).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 152 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-91).

Virginia is rapidly running out of landfill space. Recycling is seen as a way to alleviate some of the burden on our landfills. The Commonwealth of Virginia has mandated an ambitious recycling goal of 10% of our municipal solid waste (MSW) by 1991, 15% by 1993, and 25% by 1995. Yardwaste (debris such as leaves, grass clippings and shrub and tree prunings) comprises an estimated 15% to 20% of the municipal solid waste going into our landfills daily. Yardwaste can be recycled by collecting the material, piling it into large windrows, and allowing it to decompose by a controlled process called composting. The finished product can then be utilized as a soil amendment for use by nurseries, landscapers, farmers, local and state government landscaping projects, and by homeowners. The Virginia Cooperative Extension Service at Virginia Tech was authorized to perform a study on the feasibility of implementing a statewide yardwaste composting program for Virginia. The methods involved in the study included information acquisition via a literature review, site visits in other states to assess technologies and a series of surveys to determine potential uses and users of composted yardwaste in Virginia. The feasibility study was presented to the Virginia Department of Waste Management in November 1989 and presented as House Document No. 34 to the 1990 Session of the Virginia General Assembly. Several pieces of legislation, including three bills and one joint resolution, are currently pending concerning the results of the study.
Master of Science

The present study aimed to determine whether stable isotope techniques can be universally applied to detect landfill leachate contamination in aquatic systems. Results of analysis of ��C in dissolved inorganic carbon ([delta]��C-DIC), deuterium and �⁸O in water ([delta]D-H₂O and [delta]�⁸O-H₂O), and �⁵N of dissolved inorganic nitrogen components ([delta]�⁵N-NH₄⁺ and [delta]�⁵N-NO₃⁻) were presented for leachate, surface, and ground water samples collected from seven landfills located throughout New Zealand between 2003 and 2006. The unique conditions within a landfill lead to measurable fractionations in the isotopic ratios of the products of degradation. Results of isotope and ancillary parameter analyses enabled the discernment of different types of leachate, resulting from different microbial processes within the landfill environment. The isotopic characterisation of leachate enabled improved interpretation of geochemical data from potentially impacted surface and ground waters, and provides useful insight to landfill development for landfill operators. A general isotopic fingerprint delineated by [delta]��C-DIC and [delta]D-H₂O values showed leachate to be isotopically distinct from uncontaminated surface and ground water for samples analysed in the present study. However, not all water samples identified as leachate-impacted via site-specific assessments exhibited isotopic values that overlapped with the general leachate fingerprint. This highlights the need to investigate each site individually, within the context of a possibly global leachate isotope signature. Site-specific investigations revealed the effectiveness of applying [delta]�⁸O-H₂O and [delta]�⁵N-NH₄⁺ or [delta]�⁵N-NO₃⁻, in addition to [delta]��C-DIC and [delta]D-H₂O analyses, to the detection of leachate impact on aquatic systems. Furthermore, ancillary parameters such as alkalinity and ammonium concentration enabled the construction of simple isotope mixing models for an estimate of the quantity of leachate contribution. Results of isotopic investigations of stream biota suggested potential for the development of bio-indicators to monitor leachate influence on aquatic ecosystems in landfill-associated streams. The present study demonstrated the probative power of stable isotope techniques applied to investigations of leachate impact on landfill-associated aquatic systems.

The design characteristics of an active waste disposal capsule placed within a saturated groundwater environment is investigated, with the objective of developing a methodology to determine environmentally, technically and economically feasible conditions for its operation. In operation, conditions are created and maintained within and surrounding a containment cell to insure that a potential for convective inflow exists everywhere across an encapsulating barrier which tends to counter the potential for outward dispersion through the barrier. A computer algorithm based on the finite element method has been developed in the BASIC language to aid in the hydraulic analysis. Essentially, it provides a numerical solution to potential flow through porous media for two dimensional anisotropic solution domains of various materials. Data generated from this algorithm for cases of varying geometric material and boundary properties are used to verify and quantify assumed relationships involving critical design parameters which have been developed through dimensional analysis and physical reasoning. An expression describing the concentration profiles developed across the barrier is obtained by solving the one-dimensional convection-dispersion equation for steady conditions within and bounding the capsule barrier. Applying this result to an identified critical point allows conservative barrier design criteria to be developed so that operation of the active capsule results in only negligibly small amounts of contamination escaping through the barrier to the environment. By introducing cost coefficients which are descriptive of various aspects of construction, operation and maintenance of the active capsule, a total cost function is formulated from which, when minimized with respect to various design variables, optimizing criteria are developed. Finally, a predictor-corrector optimization program which incorporates the results of this study is developed and used to investigate an illustrative problem.
M.S.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 241-249). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Municipalities are increasingly facing solid waste disposal problems due to lack of sanitary landfill sites, high costs of landfill management and increasingly stringent environmental standards. Consequently, they are turning toward innovative disposal practices to alleviate these problems. However, very little comprehensive information is available to decision makers on the range of options available in resource recovery development and the factors that can influence choices. This thesis tests the hypothesis that there are a definable set of factors or circumstances that have led resource recovery developers to make specific decisions regarding ownership, operation, financing, system technology, and air pollution control technology. The thesis is divided into three stages: development of case studies on 9 resource recovery facilities in the state of Virginia; development and analysis of a nationwide survey to test the patterns illustrated in these case studies; and finally, the development of a guide for resource recovery developers that will serve as preliminary guidance in their choice of development options.
M. Arch.

Management of yard waste is a significant challenge in the US, where in 2008 13.2% of the 250 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) was reported to be yard waste. This study describes research conducted in the laboratory and field to examine the application of vegetative mulch as daily and intermediate landfill cover. Mulch was found to exhibit stronger physical properties than soil, leading to a more stable landfill slope. Compaction of mulch was found to be significantly greater than soil, potentially resulting in airspace recovery. Degradation of mulch produced a soil-like material; degradation resulted in lower physical strength and hydraulic conductivity and higher bulk density when compared with fresh mulch. Mulch covers in the field permitted higher infiltration rates at high rain intensities than soil covers, and also generated less runoff due to greater porosity and hydraulic conductivity as compared to soil. Mulch covers appear to promote methane oxidation more than soil covers, although it should be noted that methane input to mulch covers was more than an order of magnitude greater than to soil plots. Life cycle assessment (LCA) showed that, considering carbon sequestration, use of green waste as landfill cover saves GHG emissions and is a better environmental management option compared to composting and use of green waste as biofuel.
ID: 029809107; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references.
Ph.D.
Doctorate
Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering
Engineering and Computer Science
Environmental Engineering

Closed landfills possess vast open space which could only be lightly developed due to environmental concerns. Renewable energy production is one of the few beneficial and viable uses. This paper presents a study on the feasibility of converting Hong Kong’s restored strategic landfill into a clean energy facility. South East New Territories (SENT) landfill has been chosen for study due to its impending closure, its proximity to energy demands and expected restored area at approximately 60 ha. Given the location constraints, photovoltaic (PV) solar farm was found to be the most viable technological option among all available renewable energy choices. A review of literature has revealed that there are overseas examples of using ex-landfill sites for PV solar farms in the developed countries including the US, Germany, France, Italy and Korea. Different PV systems have been explored, with C-Si, CdTe, A-Si and CIGS PV panels being shortlisted for further investigation. The site characteristics have also been studied and solar resource was found to be adequate. The renewable energy production from abovementioned options has been estimated to be 81.9, 61.9, 44.3 and 68.8 million kWh respectively. The environmental performance of the hypothetical landfill based PV systems were evaluated through a life-cycle assessment. C-Si PV system has a longer payback period in terms of energy and CO2 emission. However, it outperforms the other PV options in terms of overall environmental performance over the entire life cycle. Given the long product life of PV panels, other elements including transportation, electricity system, invertors and mounting was found to be of little impact to the life cycle performance of a PV installation. The cost estimation indicates that the monetary payback period would be longer than the lifetime of all installation options. Hence, from an economic point of view, breaking even is unlikely. The findings from this study are expected to provide a preliminary concept to policy makers and environmental managers, shedding light on the implications of an alternative beneficial use of Hong Kong’s vast yet closing strategic landfills.
published_or_final_version
Environmental Management
Master
Master of Science in Environmental Management

This thesis focuses on the development of an innovative location-based scheduling methodology and a computer-based model for improving earthwork operations in road construction projects. Analysis of existing planning and scheduling practices in road construction projects conducted in the course of this research concluded that planning, scheduling and resource allocation are largely dependent on subjective decisions. Also, shortcomings exist due to the distinct characteristics of earthworks, e.g. one-off projects with uncertain site conditions and soil characteristics, causing delays and cost overruns of projects. The literature review found that existing linear scheduling methods provide inaccurate location-based information about earthworks and fail to integrate different productivity rates. A survey was used to capture and analyse industrial practices and issues related to delays and cost overruns. This analysis revealed that the accurate location-based information is vital for efficient resource planning and progress monitoring. Following these findings, a theoretical framework and specification were developed to automate location-based scheduling and visualisation of information. A prototype model was developed by integrating road design data, sectional quantities, productivity rates, unit cost, site access points, and arithmetic algorithms. The algorithms underpinning the model enable the generation of time-location plans automatically as a key output of the model. Weekly progress profiles, space congestion plans, and cost S-curves are the other outputs. A cut-fill algorithm was developed to identify optimum quantities of earthwork and its associated costs. Experiments were conducted with design data provided by a road construction company to demonstrate the model‟s functionality. Sensitivity analysis was used to identify the critical factors relating to earthwork scheduling. It was found that the model is capable of generating time-location plans, considering the critical factors and location aspects. Finally, the model was evaluated using a case study and validated by road construction professionals using an indirect comparison method. It was concluded that the model is a valuable tool for producing location-based scheduling, optimising resource planning and assisting in the communication of scheduling information from the location viewpoints in the earthwork projects.

Expansive soils are a worldwide problem that possesses various challenges for civil engineers. With increasing water content, they exhibit excessive volume changes, resulting in large horizontal and vertical stresses to the structures located or buried in these regions. The most common method to minimize this effect is to replace these types of clays around the proposed structure with nonexpansive soils. For the cases needing larger volume of replacement, either sidewalls or the foundations must be designed to cater for the anticipated pressures or a suitable improvement technique shall be applied in place. In this experimental study, it is intended to investigate the possible positive effects of trenches backfilled with granular material such as crushed stone or rock on the improvement of swell parameters of expansive soils. Thin-wall oedometer tests, conventional oedometer tests and larger size tests with moulds were performed on artificially compacted untreated and granular fill treated samples for this purpose. The trenches were modeled by opening a hole with a diameter that satisfies the predicted percent trench content at the center of the soil samples, which was then backfilled with granular material. Modified thin-wall oedometer tests were performed to measure the lateral swell pressures of both untreated and treated samples, whereas the conventional oedometer tests and tests on samples placed in moulds were performed to measure the vertical swell parameters of soils. It was observed that both the vertical swell percentages as well as the lateral swell pressures reduced considerably as the volume of granular material filled trench was increased. The treatment was observed to be more remarkable under the surcharge effect of a light weight structure or a fill placed on top.

Chong Chun-wing.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-165).
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
Abstract --- p.i
Acknowledgements --- p.v
Table of Contents --- p.vii
List of Tables --- p.x
List of Figures --- p.xii
List of Plates --- p.xiii
List of Appendix --- p.xiv
Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter 1.1 --- Waste management in Hong Kong --- p.1
Chapter 1.2 --- Landfilling --- p.1
Chapter 1.2.1 --- Definition --- p.1
Chapter 1.2.2 --- Landfill design --- p.3
Chapter 1.2.3 --- Waste degradation --- p.5
Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Landfill leachate --- p.5
Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- Landfill gas --- p.6
Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Effective control of degraded by-products --- p.8
Chapter 1.2.4 --- General practices after completion of landfills --- p.9
Chapter 1.2.4.1 --- Final capping system --- p.9
Chapter 1.2.4.2 --- Revegetation on final cover --- p.1
Chapter 1.2.4.3 --- Post-closure management --- p.11
Chapter 1.2.4.4 --- Afteruses --- p.12
Chapter 1.3 --- Reclamation of closed landfills --- p.13
Chapter 1.3.1 --- Selecting afteruse and setting ultimate ecological goal of a closed landfill --- p.14
Chapter 1.3.1.1 --- Important considerations on landfill reclamation --- p.14
Chapter 1.3.1.2 --- Land reclamation and ecosystem development --- p.14
Chapter 1.3.1.3 --- Choice In Hong Kong --- p.16
Chapter 1.3.2 --- Limitations to revegetation --- p.17
Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Physical problems --- p.17
Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Shallow soil --- p.18
Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Drought and waterlogging --- p.18
Chapter 1.3.2.4 --- Nutrient deficiencies --- p.19
Chapter 1.3.2.5 --- Landfill gas and leachate --- p.19
Chapter 1.3.3 --- Selecting the suitable species --- p.20
Chapter 1.4 --- Plantations and closed landfills --- p.22
Chapter 1.4.1 --- The roles of plantations --- p.23
Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Enhancing soil development --- p.24
Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Modifying microclimate --- p.25
Chapter 1.4.1.3 --- Facilitate natural invasion --- p.25
Chapter 1.4.2 --- Exotics or natives? --- p.25
Chapter 1.4.3 --- Knowledge learned from natural invasion --- p.27
Chapter 1.4.4 --- Human management or aftercare --- p.28
Chapter 1.5 --- Objectives of this research --- p.28
Chapter 1.5.1 --- Knowledge gap --- p.28
Chapter 1.5.2. --- Objectives --- p.29
Chapter Chapter 2 --- Study Sites --- p.31
Chapter 2.1 --- General descriptions --- p.31
Chapter 2.2 --- Locations --- p.34
Chapter 2.3 --- Climate --- p.36
Chapter Chapter 3 --- Soil Status of Closed Landfills --- p.38
Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.38
Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.40
Chapter 3.2.1 --- Landfill gas and soil moisture determination --- p.40
Chapter 3.2.2 --- Soil sampling and analysis --- p.41
Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Soil sampling and preparation --- p.41
Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Soil texture and water retention --- p.41
Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Bulk density and total porosity --- p.41
Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Soil pH and electrical conductivity --- p.42
Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Organic carbon --- p.42
Chapter 3.2.2.6 --- Nitrogen --- p.42
Chapter 3.2.2.7 --- Phosphorus --- p.43
Chapter 3.2.2.8 --- Cations --- p.43
Chapter 3.2.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.43
Chapter 3.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.44
Chapter 3.3.1 --- Landfill gas and soil moisture contents --- p.44
Chapter 3.3.2 --- Soil physical properties --- p.45
Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Bulk density and porosity --- p.45
Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Texture --- p.47
Chapter 3.3.3 --- Soil chemical properties --- p.47
Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- pH and electrical conductivity --- p.47
Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Organic carbon and matter --- p.49
Chapter 3.3.3.3 --- Nitrogen and C:N ratio --- p.50
Chapter 3.3.3.4 --- Phosphorus --- p.51
Chapter 3.3.3.5 --- Potassium --- p.52
Chapter 3.3.3.6 --- Other major cations --- p.53
Chapter 3.3.4 --- Comparison among sites --- p.53
Chapter 3.3.5 --- Comparison with other degraded sites --- p.54
Chapter 3.3.6 --- Implications --- p.55
Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.57
Chapter Chapter 4 --- "Screening Native Species for Revegetating ""Recently Restored"" Landfills I: Drought Resistance Trial" --- p.58
Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.58
Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.60
Chapter 4.2.1 --- Principles --- p.60
Chapter 4.2.2 --- Species selection --- p.63
Chapter 4.2.3 --- General experimental design --- p.65
Chapter 4.2.4 --- Soil source and analysis --- p.68
Chapter 4.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.68
Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.68
Chapter 4.3.1 --- Soil used for filling the trial pots --- p.68
Chapter 4.3.2 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.70
Chapter 4.3.3 --- Standing leaf number --- p.72
Chapter 4.3.4 --- Overall evaluation --- p.76
Chapter 4.3.5 --- Features of the more drought resistant species --- p.78
Chapter 4.3.6 --- Limitations for the study --- p.79
Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.79
Chapter Chapter 5 --- "Screening Native Species for Revegetating ""Recently Restored"" Landfills II: Field Trial" --- p.81
Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.81
Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.82
Chapter 5.2.1 --- Tree planting --- p.82
Chapter 5.2.2 --- Site environmental factors --- p.83
Chapter 5.2.3 --- Survival and growth responses --- p.85
Chapter 5.2.4 --- Ecophysiological responses --- p.85
Chapter 5.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.85
Chapter 5.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.86
Chapter 5.3.1 --- Environmental factors of Plot TNP --- p.86
Chapter 5.3.2 --- Survival rate --- p.88
Chapter 5.3.3 --- General growth performance --- p.91
Chapter 5.3.4 --- Seasonal growth performance --- p.95
Chapter 5.3.5 --- Ecophysiological responses --- p.99
Chapter 5.3.5.1 --- Fv/Fm --- p.99
Chapter 5.3.5.2 --- Stomatal conductance --- p.100
Chapter 5.3.5.3 --- Transpiration rate --- p.102
Chapter 5.3.6 --- Species selection --- p.103
Chapter 5.3.7 --- Limitations and further studies --- p.105
Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion --- p.106
Chapter Chapter 6 --- "Screening Native Species for Revegetating ""Recently Restored´ح Landfills III: Different Management Practices" --- p.107
Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.107
Chapter 6.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.108
Chapter 6.2.1 --- General experimental design and seedling preparation --- p.108
Chapter 6.2.2 --- "Survival, Growth and chlorophyll fluorescence responses" --- p.109
Chapter 6.2.3 --- Soil source and analysis --- p.109
Chapter 6.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.110
Chapter 6.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.110
Chapter 6.3.1 --- Soil physical and chemical properties --- p.110
Chapter 6.3.2 --- Survival rate --- p.112
Chapter 6.3.3 --- General growth peformance --- p.114
Chapter 6.3.3.1 --- Height growth --- p.114
Chapter 6.3.3.2 --- Basal diameter growth --- p.119
Chapter 6.3.4 --- Chlorophyll fluorescence --- p.123
Chapter 6.3.5 --- Implications --- p.124
Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusion --- p.125
Chapter Chapter 7 --- "Performance of Two Years Old Native Saplings Planted on A ""Recently Restored"" Landfill" --- p.126
Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.126
Chapter 7.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.127
Chapter 7.2.1 --- "Study plots, species selection and tree sampling" --- p.127
Chapter 7.2.2 --- Site environmental factors --- p.128
Chapter 7.2.3 --- Survival and growth responses --- p.128
Chapter 7.2.4 --- Ecophysiological responses --- p.128
Chapter 7.2.5 --- Statistical analysis --- p.128
Chapter 7.3 --- Results and discussion --- p.129
Chapter 7.3.1 --- Environmental factors of trial plots TA & TB --- p.129
Chapter 7.3.2 --- Survival rate --- p.131
Chapter 7.3.3 --- General growth performance --- p.133
Chapter 7.3.4 --- Seasonal growth performance --- p.137
Chapter 7.3.5 --- Ecophysiological responses --- p.140
Chapter 7.3.5.1 --- Fv/Fm --- p.140
Chapter 7.3.5.2 --- Stomatal conductance --- p.141
Chapter 7.3.5.3 --- Transpiration rate --- p.142
Chapter 7.3.6 --- Evaluation of different species --- p.143
Chapter 7.3.7 --- Effects of ages --- p.144
Chapter 7.4 --- Conclusion --- p.145
Chapter Chapter 8 --- General Conclusions --- p.146
Chapter 8.1 --- Summary of findings --- p.146
Chapter 8.2 --- Further studies --- p.148
References --- p.151

Thesis (DTech. degree in Environmental management.)-Tshwane University of Technology, 2008.
Aims to determine the presence and levels of common polybrominated diphenyl ethers primarily in landfill leachates, but as well as sediment and groundwater (boreholes / wells around the landfill) from selected landfill sites in order to provide baseline data required to protect water resources against such chemicals.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2006.
Advisor: Jeffrey Chanton, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of oceanography. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 26, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 84 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science in Geology Johannesburg, 1998
This study determines the potential of prerncting pollution to ground water by sanitary landfills. The tracing capabilities of both stable and radioactive environmental isotopes are also evaluated. Four landfills were selected, the Linbro Park and Waterval sites in Johannesburg, and the Bloemfontein northern and southern landfill sites. The sites all differ in geological environment, size. age and physiographic setting. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version]
MT2017

Solid Waste Management is one of the essential services provided by local bodies to keep the urban areas clean. Often it is poorly rendered as it is unscientific, out-dated and inefficient. With the rapid increase in population, livening standards, the generation rates of solid waste are increasing drastically. The landfill waste includes both organic and inorganic wastes as it is not often effectively segregated before disposal. The problem is acute in developing countries such as India. Bangalore city, with a population of about 10.18 million and more than 2000 industries, generates about 4,500 TPD of municipal solid waste. Of this Presently, various municipal solid waste processing units in Bangalore can handle only about 2100 TPD of waste. Mavallipura landfill developed and operated by M/s. Ramky Environmental Engineers, located 40 km away from Bangalore, is being used for disposing of about 1000 TPD, the installed capacity being only 600 TPD of waste. There are also a few dumps in around Bangalore due to historical reasons and insufficient capacity of various designated landfills. To reclaim the old dump sites/closed landfill sites for infrastructural development, it is necessary to know their geotechnical characteristics. Within the Landfill, the characteristics of the waste may change with depth due to degraded wastes as it has been dumped over a period of time. The physical parameters, chemical properties as well as the geotechnical behaviour of the waste change with depth. MSW is known to be a heterogeneous material of varying constituent types and dimensions, containing elements that degrade with time. To consider MSW as a geo-material to support the foundation of structures such as buildings and pavement, an analysis of the bearing capacity of the foundation and further long-term settlement of MSW is essential. The MSW samples are retrieved from a Mavallipura landfill site, Bangalore and analysed for important geotechnical properties such as compaction characteristics, shear strength, permeability, compressibility behaviour and dynamic properties of MSW using ultrasonic and cyclic triaxial tests. This research thus aims to provide valuable information about landfill sites for reclamation, closure and infrastructural development after the closure of landfills. Scanty data are available on the geotechnical properties of waste from landfill sites with varying degrees of degradation. This landfill site is selected as there is a huge environmental concern regarding the soil and groundwater contamination in the area and also can represent a typical landfill scenario in tropical regions. Quantification, quality assessment, consequent treatment and management of leachate have become a monstrous problem world over. In this context, the present study envisages to study the physicochemical and biological characterization of representative urban municipal landfill leachate and nearby water bodies and attempts to figure out relationships between the various parameters together with understanding the various processes for chemical transformations. The analysis shows intermediate leachate age (5-10 years) with higher nutrient levels i.e. 10,000 - 12,000 mg/l and ~2,000 - 3,000 mg/l of carbon (COD) and nitrogen (TKN) respectively. Elemental analysis and underlying mechanisms reveal chemical precipitation and co-precipitation as the vital processes in leachate pond systems resulting in accumulation of trace metals in these systems. The microbial analysis also correlated with specific factors relevant to redox environments that show a gradient in nature and the abundance of biotic diversity with a change in leachate environment. Finally, the quality and the contamination potential of the sampled leachate were performed with the help of potential leachate index (LPI) analysis and water quality index (WQI) analysis for surrounding water bodies (namely surface pond and open well) of Mavallipura landfill site. A geotechnical testing program has been drawn to evaluate the engineering properties of municipal solid waste samples retrieved from a landfill at Mavallipura at various depths through augur within the landfill dumped area. Laboratory studies included are composition, moisture content, particle size analysis, compaction, permeability, direct shear test, consolidation, triaxial compression test. For the laboratory tests, we had considered maximum particle sizes of less than 4.75 mm only. Standard Proctor Compaction tests yielded a maximum dry density of 7.0kN/m3 at 50% optimum moisture content. The permeability of MSW results shows in the range of 4x10-4 cm/sec. Compression index of MSW is 0.46980 and recompression index of MSW is 0.09454. Results obtained from the rectangular hyperbola method are compared with Casagrande and Taylor methods to prove that this method is reliable equally, and results are reasonably accurate. Based on direct shear tests, the MSW sample exhibited continuous strength gain with an increase in shear strain (16%) to define strength. The cohesion of MSW was 10kPa and friction angle is 34°. Based on the elastic constants results obtained from the direct shear test found to be very soft material. In the triaxial test, the MSW sample exhibited continuous strength gain with an increase in axial strain. The frictional component is increased due to sliding and rolling of fibrous particles over one another resulting in the development of apparent cohesion due to antiparticle bonds within the MSW material. Landfills are an integral part of waste management, and disastrous consequences can happen if seismic vulnerability of these landfills is not considered. Dynamic properties of MSW are required to perform seismic response analysis of MSW landfills, but there is no good understanding of the dynamic shear strength of MSW in literature. A comprehensive laboratory cyclic triaxial testing program has been taken up to determine the properties at different densities, confining pressures and shear strains. MSW degrades with time, and its shear modulus and damping are expected to vary with time and degradation. For the density of 6 kN/m3 the dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 0.68 MPa to 5.38 MPa and damping ratio varied from 20% to 40% for MSW. For the density of 7 kN/m3 the dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 1.8 MPa to 7.5 MPa and Damping ratio varied from 23% to 40% for MSW. For the density of 8kN/m3 dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 2.46 MPa to 8.00MPa and damping ratio varied from 16% to 33% for MSW. Also, the ultrasonic testing method was used for determining the dynamic properties at low strains. The Ultrasonic test results indicated that with an increase in density of the sample and with decreased void ratio, the pulse propagation velocity (Vp) increases. With an increase in the density, the shear wave velocity and elastic constants (elastic modulus and shear modulus) increase. The elastic constant values obtained from the ultrasonic test are higher compared to values obtained from unconsolidated-undrained triaxial tests. Also, the carbon stored in the buried organic matter in Mavallipura landfill is estimated. Total organic carbon increases steeply with an increase in depth and is significantly high at a depth of 6 m. Subsurface properties cannot be specified but must be analysed through in-situ tests. The in-situ testing that are carried out in a landfill are boring, sampling, standard penetration test (SPT), dynamic cone penetration test (DCPT) and plate load tests (under static and cyclic condition). A correlation between corrected SPT ‘N’ values and measured using shear wave velocities has been developed for Mavallipura landfill site. Results show that the corrected SPT- N values increase with depth. Corrected N-values are used in the landfill design, so they are consistent with the design method, and correlations are useful. The results obtained from the dynamic cone penetration tests shows lower value when to compare with standard penetration test. The unit weight profile with depth ranged from a low unit weight of 2.48 kN/m3 near the surface to a highest value of approximately 9.02 kN/m3 at a depth of 6 m. The highest temperatures for landfills were reported at mid-waste elevations with temperatures decreasing near the top. The bearing pressure-settlement curves for plate size 75cm and 60cm presented similar behaviour while the plate size of 60cm curve presents a lesser settlement of 70mm, compared to with plate size of the 75cm curve with the settlement of 80mm and failure mode could be classified as punching shear. The cyclic plate load test with plate size of 60cm and 75cm were carried out on the soil cover. The elastic constants were found to be 73.87 and 96.84 kPa/mm and for 60 and 75cm plates respectively. Geophysical testing may not be as precise but has the benefit of covering large areas at small costs and sometimes can locate features that might be missing by conventional borings. Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is an indirect geophysical method used in the landfill for the characterization of the municipal solid waste site. The Mavallipura landfill was surveyed up to the length of about 35m at the top level. A series of one-dimensional and two-dimensional MASW surveys used active seismic sources such as sledgehammer (5kg) and propelled energy generator (PEG-40) was used. This hammer was instrumented with geophones to trigger record time. All the testing has been carried out with geophone spacing of 1m and recorded surface wave arrivals using the source to first receiver distance as 5m with recording length of 1000 millisecond and the recording sampling interval of 0.5 milliseconds (ms) were applied. Results shows that the PEG-40 hammer can generate the longest wavelength with a maximum depth of penetration. The shear wave velocity varies from 75 to 155 m/s with an increase in depth of about 27.5m. Based on the site characterization at the landfill site, it was found that the Mavallipura landfill site can be categorized as very loose, and it is still in a continued stage of degradation. Shear wave and P-wave velocity profile for eight major locations in the study area were determined and variation of waste material stiffness corresponding to the in-situ state with depth, was also evaluated. Also, MASW survey has been carried out to develop dispersion curve on another landfill site at Bhandewadi, Nagpur. MASW system consisting of 24 channels geode seismograph with 24 geophones of 4.5Hz capacity is used in this investigation. The seismic waves were created by sledgehammer with 30cmx 30cmx2cm size hammer plate with ten shots. These waves were captured by the geophones/receivers and further analyzed by inversion. The results indicated that near surface soils(less than 3m depth) approximately the to 5mm, and with 85% of dry weight basis of waste particles with sizes less than 10mm, the shear wave velocity varies from 75 to 140 m/s (frequency ranges from 30 to 23Hz). With the increase in 6.5m depth, the shear wave velocity ranged from 140 to 225m/s (frequency ranges 23 to 13Hz). Overall, the results of the study showed that seismic surveys have the potential to capture the changes in dynamic properties like shear wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio of the depth of MSW landfill to infer the extent of degradation and provide dynamic properties needed for seismic stability evaluations. Based on the in situ and laboratory results of this study and a review of the literature, the unit weight, shear wave velocity, strain-dependent normalized shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio relationships for Mavallipura landfill are developed and also validated using semi-empirical methods. Finally, seismic response analysis of Mavallipura landfill has been carried out using the computer programs like SHAKE 2000 and DEEPSOIL. Results show that the unit weight is increased with depth in response to the increase in overburden stress. The proposed material damping ratio and normalized shear modulus reduction curve lie close to the profile given in the literature for landfills composed of waste materials with 100% particles sized less than 20mm. Peak spectral acceleration at 5% damping value is 0.7g for 0.07 sec in SHAKE 2000 and peak spectral acceleration at 5% damping value is 0.63g for 0.04 sec in DEEPSOIL. Amplification ratio is 6.11 at 1.1l Hz in SHAKE2000 and 4.65 at 2.67Hz in DEEPSOIL. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the landfill site, it is observed PGA has decreased from 0.3g to 0.15g in DEEPSOIL and PGA has decreased from 0.33g to 0.15g in SHAKE2000. The studies presented in the thesis brought out the importance of characterization of municipal solid waste leachate regarding metabolism and treatment/degradation of Mavallipura landfill leachate. For municipal solid waste of with sizes ranging from 0.08 coefficient of permeability being about 10-4 cm/sec, the compression index was about 0.47. A more reliable method of calculating the coefficient of consolidation has been recommended. Correlations between shear wave velocity and SPT-N values has been developed for the Mavallipura landfill site. The results showed that the dynamic cone penetration tests values are lower than indicated by standard penetration tests. The cyclic plate load tests carried out with plate sizes of 75cm and 60cm showed that elastic constants of 96.84 kPa/mm and 73.87kPa/mm respectively. MSW properties evaluated in this thesis are compared with those of soft clays. The MSW properties showed higher values (strength and SBC) and lower values of compressibility, compared with those of soft clays. Thus foundation improvement on MSW is less challenging than foundations on soft soils. Also stabilization of MSW with other solid wastes such as fly ash can be considered as an economical option. Based on detailed studies the importance of unit weight, shear wave velocity, strain-dependent normalized shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio relationships for landfill waste have been developed. Based on the site characterization, the waste landfill has been categorized as very loose material, which is still in a degradation process. SHAKE2000 software shows higher PGA value comparing with DEEPSOIL.

Solid Waste Management is one of the essential services provided by local bodies to keep the urban areas clean. Often it is poorly rendered as it is unscientific, out-dated and inefficient. With the rapid increase in population, livening standards, the generation rates of solid waste are increasing drastically. The landfill waste includes both organic and inorganic wastes as it is not often effectively segregated before disposal. The problem is acute in developing countries such as India. Bangalore city, with a population of about 10.18 million and more than 2000 industries, generates about 4,500 TPD of municipal solid waste. Of this Presently, various municipal solid waste processing units in Bangalore can handle only about 2100 TPD of waste. Mavallipura landfill developed and operated by M/s. Ramky Environmental Engineers, located 40 km away from Bangalore, is being used for disposing of about 1000 TPD, the installed capacity being only 600 TPD of waste. There are also a few dumps in around Bangalore due to historical reasons and insufficient capacity of various designated landfills. To reclaim the old dump sites/closed landfill sites for infrastructural development, it is necessary to know their geotechnical characteristics. Within the Landfill, the characteristics of the waste may change with depth due to degraded wastes as it has been dumped over a period of time. The physical parameters, chemical properties as well as the geotechnical behaviour of the waste change with depth. MSW is known to be a heterogeneous material of varying constituent types and dimensions, containing elements that degrade with time. To consider MSW as a geo-material to support the foundation of structures such as buildings and pavement, an analysis of the bearing capacity of the foundation and further long-term settlement of MSW is essential. The MSW samples are retrieved from a Mavallipura landfill site, Bangalore and analysed for important geotechnical properties such as compaction characteristics, shear strength, permeability, compressibility behaviour and dynamic properties of MSW using ultrasonic and cyclic triaxial tests. This research thus aims to provide valuable information about landfill sites for reclamation, closure and infrastructural development after the closure of landfills. Scanty data are available on the geotechnical properties of waste from landfill sites with varying degrees of degradation. This landfill site is selected as there is a huge environmental concern regarding the soil and groundwater contamination in the area and also can represent a typical landfill scenario in tropical regions. Quantification, quality assessment, consequent treatment and management of leachate have become a monstrous problem world over. In this context, the present study envisages to study the physicochemical and biological characterization of representative urban municipal landfill leachate and nearby water bodies and attempts to figure out relationships between the various parameters together with understanding the various processes for chemical transformations. The analysis shows intermediate leachate age (5-10 years) with higher nutrient levels i.e. 10,000 - 12,000 mg/l and ~2,000 - 3,000 mg/l of carbon (COD) and nitrogen (TKN) respectively. Elemental analysis and underlying mechanisms reveal chemical precipitation and co-precipitation as the vital processes in leachate pond systems resulting in accumulation of trace metals in these systems. The microbial analysis also correlated with specific factors relevant to redox environments that show a gradient in nature and the abundance of biotic diversity with a change in leachate environment. Finally, the quality and the contamination potential of the sampled leachate were performed with the help of potential leachate index (LPI) analysis and water quality index (WQI) analysis for surrounding water bodies (namely surface pond and open well) of Mavallipura landfill site. A geotechnical testing program has been drawn to evaluate the engineering properties of municipal solid waste samples retrieved from a landfill at Mavallipura at various depths through augur within the landfill dumped area. Laboratory studies included are composition, moisture content, particle size analysis, compaction, permeability, direct shear test, consolidation, triaxial compression test. For the laboratory tests, we had considered maximum particle sizes of less than 4.75 mm only. Standard Proctor Compaction tests yielded a maximum dry density of 7.0kN/m3 at 50% optimum moisture content. The permeability of MSW results shows in the range of 4x10-4 cm/sec. Compression index of MSW is 0.46980 and recompression index of MSW is 0.09454. Results obtained from the rectangular hyperbola method are compared with Casagrande and Taylor methods to prove that this method is reliable equally, and results are reasonably accurate. Based on direct shear tests, the MSW sample exhibited continuous strength gain with an increase in shear strain (16%) to define strength. The cohesion of MSW was 10kPa and friction angle is 34°. Based on the elastic constants results obtained from the direct shear test found to be very soft material. In the triaxial test, the MSW sample exhibited continuous strength gain with an increase in axial strain. The frictional component is increased due to sliding and rolling of fibrous particles over one another resulting in the development of apparent cohesion due to antiparticle bonds within the MSW material. Landfills are an integral part of waste management, and disastrous consequences can happen if seismic vulnerability of these landfills is not considered. Dynamic properties of MSW are required to perform seismic response analysis of MSW landfills, but there is no good understanding of the dynamic shear strength of MSW in literature. A comprehensive laboratory cyclic triaxial testing program has been taken up to determine the properties at different densities, confining pressures and shear strains. MSW degrades with time, and its shear modulus and damping are expected to vary with time and degradation. For the density of 6 kN/m3 the dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 0.68 MPa to 5.38 MPa and damping ratio varied from 20% to 40% for MSW. For the density of 7 kN/m3 the dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 1.8 MPa to 7.5 MPa and Damping ratio varied from 23% to 40% for MSW. For the density of 8kN/m3 dynamic shear modulus values for MSW varied from 2.46 MPa to 8.00MPa and damping ratio varied from 16% to 33% for MSW. Also, the ultrasonic testing method was used for determining the dynamic properties at low strains. The Ultrasonic test results indicated that with an increase in density of the sample and with decreased void ratio, the pulse propagation velocity (Vp) increases. With an increase in the density, the shear wave velocity and elastic constants (elastic modulus and shear modulus) increase. The elastic constant values obtained from the ultrasonic test are higher compared to values obtained from unconsolidated-undrained triaxial tests. Also, the carbon stored in the buried organic matter in Mavallipura landfill is estimated. Total organic carbon increases steeply with an increase in depth and is significantly high at a depth of 6 m. Subsurface properties cannot be specified but must be analysed through in-situ tests. The in-situ testing that are carried out in a landfill are boring, sampling, standard penetration test (SPT), dynamic cone penetration test (DCPT) and plate load tests (under static and cyclic condition). A correlation between corrected SPT ‘N’ values and measured using shear wave velocities has been developed for Mavallipura landfill site. Results show that the corrected SPT- N values increase with depth. Corrected N-values are used in the landfill design, so they are consistent with the design method, and correlations are useful. The results obtained from the dynamic cone penetration tests shows lower value when to compare with standard penetration test. The unit weight profile with depth ranged from a low unit weight of 2.48 kN/m3 near the surface to a highest value of approximately 9.02 kN/m3 at a depth of 6 m. The highest temperatures for landfills were reported at mid-waste elevations with temperatures decreasing near the top. The bearing pressure-settlement curves for plate size 75cm and 60cm presented similar behaviour while the plate size of 60cm curve presents a lesser settlement of 70mm, compared to with plate size of the 75cm curve with the settlement of 80mm and failure mode could be classified as punching shear. The cyclic plate load test with plate size of 60cm and 75cm were carried out on the soil cover. The elastic constants were found to be 73.87 and 96.84 kPa/mm and for 60 and 75cm plates respectively. Geophysical testing may not be as precise but has the benefit of covering large areas at small costs and sometimes can locate features that might be missing by conventional borings. Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is an indirect geophysical method used in the landfill for the characterization of the municipal solid waste site. The Mavallipura landfill was surveyed up to the length of about 35m at the top level. A series of one-dimensional and two-dimensional MASW surveys used active seismic sources such as sledgehammer (5kg) and propelled energy generator (PEG-40) was used. This hammer was instrumented with geophones to trigger record time. All the testing has been carried out with geophone spacing of 1m and recorded surface wave arrivals using the source to first receiver distance as 5m with recording length of 1000 millisecond and the recording sampling interval of 0.5 milliseconds (ms) were applied. Results shows that the PEG-40 hammer can generate the longest wavelength with a maximum depth of penetration. The shear wave velocity varies from 75 to 155 m/s with an increase in depth of about 27.5m. Based on the site characterization at the landfill site, it was found that the Mavallipura landfill site can be categorized as very loose, and it is still in a continued stage of degradation. Shear wave and P-wave velocity profile for eight major locations in the study area were determined and variation of waste material stiffness corresponding to the in-situ state with depth, was also evaluated. Also, MASW survey has been carried out to develop dispersion curve on another landfill site at Bhandewadi, Nagpur. MASW system consisting of 24 channels geode seismograph with 24 geophones of 4.5Hz capacity is used in this investigation. The seismic waves were created by sledgehammer with 30cmx 30cmx2cm size hammer plate with ten shots. These waves were captured by the geophones/receivers and further analyzed by inversion. The results indicated that near surface soils(less than 3m depth) approximately the to 5mm, and with 85% of dry weight basis of waste particles with sizes less than 10mm, the shear wave velocity varies from 75 to 140 m/s (frequency ranges from 30 to 23Hz). With the increase in 6.5m depth, the shear wave velocity ranged from 140 to 225m/s (frequency ranges 23 to 13Hz). Overall, the results of the study showed that seismic surveys have the potential to capture the changes in dynamic properties like shear wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio of the depth of MSW landfill to infer the extent of degradation and provide dynamic properties needed for seismic stability evaluations. Based on the in situ and laboratory results of this study and a review of the literature, the unit weight, shear wave velocity, strain-dependent normalized shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio relationships for Mavallipura landfill are developed and also validated using semi-empirical methods. Finally, seismic response analysis of Mavallipura landfill has been carried out using the computer programs like SHAKE 2000 and DEEPSOIL. Results show that the unit weight is increased with depth in response to the increase in overburden stress. The proposed material damping ratio and normalized shear modulus reduction curve lie close to the profile given in the literature for landfills composed of waste materials with 100% particles sized less than 20mm. Peak spectral acceleration at 5% damping value is 0.7g for 0.07 sec in SHAKE 2000 and peak spectral acceleration at 5% damping value is 0.63g for 0.04 sec in DEEPSOIL. Amplification ratio is 6.11 at 1.1l Hz in SHAKE2000 and 4.65 at 2.67Hz in DEEPSOIL. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the landfill site, it is observed PGA has decreased from 0.3g to 0.15g in DEEPSOIL and PGA has decreased from 0.33g to 0.15g in SHAKE2000. The studies presented in the thesis brought out the importance of characterization of municipal solid waste leachate regarding metabolism and treatment/degradation of Mavallipura landfill leachate. For municipal solid waste of with sizes ranging from 0.08 coefficient of permeability being about 10-4 cm/sec, the compression index was about 0.47. A more reliable method of calculating the coefficient of consolidation has been recommended. Correlations between shear wave velocity and SPT-N values has been developed for the Mavallipura landfill site. The results showed that the dynamic cone penetration tests values are lower than indicated by standard penetration tests. The cyclic plate load tests carried out with plate sizes of 75cm and 60cm showed that elastic constants of 96.84 kPa/mm and 73.87kPa/mm respectively. MSW properties evaluated in this thesis are compared with those of soft clays. The MSW properties showed higher values (strength and SBC) and lower values of compressibility, compared with those of soft clays. Thus foundation improvement on MSW is less challenging than foundations on soft soils. Also stabilization of MSW with other solid wastes such as fly ash can be considered as an economical option. Based on detailed studies the importance of unit weight, shear wave velocity, strain-dependent normalized shear modulus reduction and material damping ratio relationships for landfill waste have been developed. Based on the site characterization, the waste landfill has been categorized as very loose material, which is still in a degradation process. SHAKE2000 software shows higher PGA value comparing with DEEPSOIL.

碩士
國立中興大學
土木工程學系所
101
Some of the major national construction and disaster restoration projects may have the moderate scale of cut and fill earthworks. If there exist a number of cut and fill earthworks in some blocks, different preparation of elevation, and the heterogeneity of soil, it will produce different number of earthworks. Furthermore, the efficiency ranging from construction equipment and truck capacity allocation will cause the different strategic planning of earthwork movement. Therefore, assessing the earthwork in a fast and accurate way is an important issue of civil engineering. This study used Surfer computer analysis program to carry out cut and fill earthwork calculations. Three practical engineering cases were analyzed with volume integration in the excavation area. Moreover, this study uses three kinds of integration methods: the Trapezoidal Rule, Simpson’s Rule and the Simpson’s 3/8 Rule for calculation. The analyzed results have moderate engineering display shcu as contours of the base map and three-dimensional wildframe view etc. These can provide the recognition of regional heights and depressions as references for planning and design of earthworks. In addition, the cut-fill elevation and block selection can be appropriately adjusted for seeking the smallest amount of cut and fill earthwork balance after several steps of quick calculations.

With increasing population comes the concern for waste disposal. The absence of sanitary disposal methods has left most city residents with open landfills as their only source of waste disposal. The resulting leachate formed from the decomposition of these waste materials is highly polluting and finds its way to the underground water supply. The study investigated the effects of open landfill sites on the underground water quality by examining the physical and chemical properties of underground water in hand-dug wells around the Solous landfill sites in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Solous landfill is the second largest landfill by landmass and volume of waste in Lagos State. Systematic random sampling was used for data gathering. Eighteen hand-dug wells were sampled at increasing distances from the landfill site. Physical, chemical and microbiological parameters were analysed at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Soil samples were also taken from both the A (0 – 30cm) and B (30 – 60cm) horizons of the water sampling points to determine the soil texture (silt, clay and loamy composition) and to show the impact of soil texture on ground water quality within the sampled area. The level of contamination of groundwater was also determined using the Contamination Index method. The results showed high degree of conformance with W.H.O standard with respect to the microbiological properties of the sampled groundwater. However, coliform tests indicated the potential presence of pathogens. Of the seven (7) physical parameters tested, conductivity was higher in one sample. The study of chemical properties from the eighteen wells showed five (5) parameters (dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, iron, lead, nitrates and copper) above W.H.O limits in some samples. The water may therefore not be safe for human consumption and there is a serious need to monitor the groundwater quality in the area. The level of contamination of groundwater was also determined using the Contamination Index method. Areas of high and medium contamination were discovered. There was no area with low contamination level in the area sampled. Contamination levels were mapped to show the exact levels of contamination in the study area. The results of the soil analysis showed that the study area had soil that was mostly sandy in nature which may suggest an increase in parameters over time with significant health implications for the people who depend on surrounding wells for domestic use. The study also showed no significant variation in water quality with increasing distance from the dump site. Findings also indicated that the water around Solous 1 was of better quality for domestic use than groundwater around Solous 2 and 3 due to temporal reduction of contaminant concentration. There is therefore a need for adequate and proper planning, design and construction, and strategic management disposal of waste, as well as the implementation of a better sustainable environmental sanitation practice.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Landfills have served as the major sites for waste disposal in both developed and developing countries. Upon closure of a landfill site, the surface could be converted to a golf course, recreation park, playground, animal refuge, tennis court and industrial site. Even when closed, landfills still have the potential to contaminate the surrounding environment as a result of the migration of leachate from decomposing waste contained in the site. This study focused on assessing the impacts of a closed landfill on soils and plants at Lumberstewart closed landfill site in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Soil samples were collected at three different depths (0-30 cm, 30 - 60 cm and 60-90 cm) at the landfill and a control site. The soil samples were analysed for their texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity and concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni and Zn. Samples of jimson weed and pigweed growing at the closed landfill and the control site were collected from the same sites where soil samples were collected, and the concentrations of the same set of heavy metals in these weeds determined. Soil samples were digested using EPA method 3050B: Acid Digestion of Sediments, Sludge and soils whereas nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was used for digestion of plant samples. Both plant and soil digests were analyzed for heavy metals concentrations using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Soils from the landfill as well as the control site had a high content of sand with soil pH values which were alkaline. The electrical conductivity values of the soil samples were relatively low ranging from 0.39 to 1.67 dS/m, indicating low levels of salts in soils at the landfill. The concentrations of heavy metals at the closed landfill site were higher than the control site. Heavy metals concentrations in soils at the closed landfill followed the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd. Results indicated that Fe was exceptionally higher than the other metals with concentration values averaging 45690±17255 mg/kg. Cadmium on the other hand had the least concentration with values of 0.01±0.00 mg/kg. Values of Enrichment Factors of heavy metals around the soil at different depths indicated that the enrichment of heavy metals increased with depth at the landfill up to 30-60 cm after which a decrease was observed. Values for heavy metal Contamination Factor of soils around the landfill ranged from low concentration (CF<1) to very high concentration (CF>6). The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values for the soil at the Lumberstewart landfill indicated that all sites were polluted (PLI>1). Site 6 had significantly higher mean concentration of heavy metals in soils at the landfill whereas site 11 had the least. The concentrations of Cd and Ni in soils at the landfill were below permissible limits of South African National Norms and Standards (NNS) as prescribed by NEMA (2008) in South Africa whereas Cr, Cu and Zn in soils were above the NNS permissible limits. Heavy metal concentrations in soils at the landfill were above World Health (WHO) permissible limits except for Cd which was equal (0.01 mg/kg) to the permissible values of Cd in the soils at sites 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in jimson weed and pigweed were in the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn in both plants from all sites at the landfill were significantly higher than the control site. Heavy metal transfer coefficient for both plants indicated that heavy metal uptake was more species dependent than soil heavy metal concentration dependent. The results from this research indicate that though the Lumberstewart Landfill has been closed, it is still affecting the soils in the vicinity of the landfill. Plants and water around the Lumberstewart closed landfill could be at risk from heavy metal contamination. High concentrations of heavy metals observed in the soil could present a health risk to communities should they decide to use the landfill site for arable purposes.
Environmental Sciences
M. Sc. (Environmental Science)