Optimal Urban Waste Dumping Site Selection in Kalutara DS Division of Sri Lanka using GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
https://doi.org/10.36777/jag2023.2.2.7
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36777/jag2023.2.2.7Keywords:
AHP-MCDA, GIS, Suitability, Urban, Waste DumpingAbstract
Improper waste disposal has become an emerging environmental issue in Sri Lanka, partly due to rapid and unplanned urbanisation. Identifying suitable locations for waste disposal is therefore essential to minimise environmental degradation and potential risks to human health and well-being. This study develops an integrated multi-criteria decision analysis approach to identify suitable sites for urban waste disposal in the Kalutara Divisional Secretariat (DS) Division. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was integrated with geospatial techniques using 10 criteria: land use, population density, schools, religious places, government offices, coastal areas, hospitals, roads, railways, and environmentally sensitive areas. The selected criteria were represented in vector and raster formats and subsequently weighted, standardised, and normalised using expert opinions and evidence from the literature. The resulting GIS-based AHP-MCDA suitability analysis classified potential waste disposal sites into three categories: unsuitable, less suitable, and suitable. The results indicate that 36.94% of the study area was classified as unsuitable, 53.06% as less suitable, and 9.90% as suitable for urban waste disposal. Suitable and unsuitable areas exhibited distinct spatial patterns, particularly across the northern, northeastern, western, and central parts of the study area. The findings demonstrate the value of integrating AHP-MCDA and GIS techniques for identifying environmentally and socially appropriate waste disposal locations. The resulting suitability maps can provide practical decision-support information for engineers, regional planners, and policymakers in developing more sustainable waste management strategies in the Kalutara DS Division.
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