Site selection of the sanitary landfill using remote sensing techniques

The sanitary landfill has proved to be a feasible and hygienic way of disposing of solid wastes. However, site locations for this refuse disposal are known to have been limited in municipal areas recently. In order to select a new site for a sanitary landfill, application of certain basic engineering principles is needed. Remote sensing techniques appear to offer a useful and logical way of finding proper sites. This paper is primarily an application of the technique of aerial photographic interpretation directed to the proper selection of a sanitary landfill site. A case study of Fort Bend County, which is part of the Houston Area Test Site (No. 175 of NASA designation), is encompassed in this thesis. Color and color infrared aerial photographs have been employed to study ground features, forests, roads, drainage, land-uses, soil moisture conditions, soil types, etc. Two sites, designated Site "A" and Site "B", have been selected for Fort Bend County in the eastern and western parts of the county, respectively. These two sites are to serve five major cities: Sugarland, Missouri City and Stafford in the eastern part of the county with Richmond and Rosenberg in the western part of the county. Soil types, forests in the vicinity of the proposed sites, existing roads, drainage patterns, possibilities of future land-use, etc., are described and discussed generally in this thesis. Different remote sensors and factors affecting the quality of imagery of aerial photography are subsequently placed in the appendix for assistance to those interested in aerial photographic interpretation.