Date Approved

8-2-2018

Embargo Period

8-2-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MS Civil Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

College

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering

Advisor

Nazari, Rouzbeh

Committee Member 1

Everett, Jess

Committee Member 2

Howell, Jordan

Keywords

Landfill, Risk analysis of factors, Risk Index, Subsurface fire

Subject(s)

Sanitary landfills; Fire prevention; Fire risk assessment

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Environmental Engineering

Abstract

Landfill subsurface fires create environmental hazards by emitting potentially dangerous particulates into the atmosphere and damaging liners, potentially contaminating surrounding soil and groundwater aquifers with leachate. Currently, the only means of detecting underground fires are physical tests. This paper is used to describe an index that can be employed to track fire risk across a landfill. The landfill parameters analyzed for fire risk susceptibility in Chapter 1 include residual nitrogen concentration, oxygen exceedance, methane concentration, carbon monoxide level, methane and carbon dioxide ratio and monitoring well temperature. Incorporating these factors, a landfill fire index ranging from 1 to 10 was developed in Chapter 2 that can be utilized by waste disposal facility operators to avoid fire incidents, fatalities, and environmental damage. A high index value indicates a high level of risk for landfill subsurface fire. Landfill operators can use the index to take preventive measures that reduce the economic and environmental costs of landfill fires.

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