NIAGARA COLLEGE GIS-GM

Geospatial
Visualization
Raster Based Analysis of Terrain Surfaces
Assignment #2
By: Marc Michael Mancino
For: Ian D. Smith

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

Technical Memorandum
Project:

Raster Based Analysis of Terrain Surfaces

Client:

Mr. I.D. Smith, Director of

Landfill Operations

Subject:

GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial Visualization

Date:

May 15th, 2015

Prepared By: Marc Mancino

Triplem Inc.

1.0 Introduction
The focus of this deliverable is to undertake a three-dimensional analysis
of the Town of Gumby landfill and determine the remaining volume of
waste that may be placed in the landfill to reach the Ontario Ministry of the
Environments maximum allowable limit for the area of interest. This will
be accomplished using a powerful application called ArcGIS. ArcGIS is a
user-friendly application capable of manipulating and distributing
geographic information. The existing surface of the landfill will be
represented and interpreted using ArcGISs raster and TIN technologies to
account for potential changes in terrain, whether it be loss or accretion. It
will then be compared to the elevation contour limits set by the Ministry of
the Environment to determine which areas of the landfill need to be cut
back on and which will allow for further landfilling. The proceeding
analyses will detail the changes required to obtain the MOEs certificate of
approval. An example of the technologies used to represent the study area
can be seen in Figure 1.

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

Figure 1 3D Elevation Profile of the Town of Gumby Landfill

2.0 Methodology
After examining and interpreting the layers of data provided, the process
for manipulating it in ArcGIS can begin. Since the area that the MOE has a
license for is the area of interest for this project, it is imperative to clip the
survey points outside the landfill footprint because any points outside this
boundary are of no interest. The same will also occur for the landfill
contours data layer; both of which are executed using the Clip tool in
ArcGIS.
In order to create a more interpretive surface, the Create TIN tool will
then be used on both of the newly clipped sections of the data layers to
produce a TIN (Triangulated Irregular Networks). This is a prerequisite for
producing the 3D surface profile of the landfill and is in fact exactly what it
is; just viewed in ArcScene, which is the sub-program of ArcGIS that is
used to view data layers in 3D. The TIN that is created from the survey data
points was the same one previously viewed in Figure 1. The 2D versions of
the TINs produced amongst all of the proper cartographic elements can be
seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3 below.

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

Figure 2 - TIN of the Existing Surface Profile for the Town of Gumby Landfill

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

Figure 3 - TIN of the Contour Elevation Profile for the Town of Gumby Landfill

In order to determine an accurate volume for the remaining space in the

landfill, a measurable data layer needs to be created. This can be
accomplished through the conversion of the TIN data layers into raster
data layers. The TIN to Raster tool in ArcGIS 3D Analyst Extension, was
used to convert the two TIN data layers into raster layers. A grid size of
1m2 and Z values for elevation were used to represent the values of each
cell. Using these two raster layers, we can then take the difference between
them to calculate the volume. The Raster Calculator tool in ArcGIS
Spatial Analyst Extension was used to accomplish this, which can be seen
in Figure 4.

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

Figure 4 - Raster Imagery depicting the Differential Topography for the Town of Gumby
Landfill

The values coded in varying shades of red denote the areas of the landfill
that are above the maximum allowable limit and the values coded in
varying shades of blue denote the areas of the landfill that are equal or
below the allowable limit.
In order to determine the volume, we will need to utilize the surface
analysis component of either ArcGIS 3D Analyst Extension or ArcGIS
Spatial Analyst Extension. This Cut/Fill tool will input the existing landfill
surface with the final allowed landfill surface and take a difference, similar
to the process with the raster calculator. The difference between the two
methods is that the Cut/Fill method populates an attribute table with
numeric values that represent volume. We can then take the sum of those
values, using the Summary Statistics tool, and get a volume that

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

represents the total amount of waste, in m3, that the municipality can place
in the landfill before it reaches capacity.

3.0 Discussion
After analyzing the attribute table for the Cut/Fill raster, a total volume
was derived; 126453 m3. This value accounts for the intended changes to
the areas that exceed the maximum allowable limit. Taking into
consideration the number of households serviced, the average occupancy
per household, and the tonnes of solid waste per annum, we can calculate
how many tonnes of space remain in the landfill. The calculations are
detailed below:
Total Volume = 126453 m3
Compaction Rate = 0.6 tonnes / m3
Remaining space in landfill = 0.6 tonnes / m 3 * 126453 m3 = 75871.8
tonnes
If we multiply the tonnes/capita/year with the average occupancy per
household, we figure out the rate of waste produced by each household.
Assuming the landfill will continue to service 10,200 households for the
near future, we can then calculate the amount of waste produced per
annum, which is detailed below in Table 1.
Table 1 - Waste Generation Rates for the Town of Gumby Landfill
Year

Tonnes/Capita/Year

1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012

0.650
0.600
0.490
0.440
0.400
0.350
0.330
0.310
0.310
0.300
0.310
0.300
0.300
0.310

Tonnes/Household/Y
ear
1.625
1.500
1.225
1.100
1.000
0.875
0.825
0.775
0.775
0.750
0.775
0.750
0.750
0.775

Tonnes/Year
16575
15300
12495
11220
10200
8925
8415
7905
7905
7650
7905
7650
7650
7905

If the rates remain constant between 0.75 tonnes/household/year and 0.775

tonnes/household/year, it is safe to assume the landfill can continue filling
for between 9.59 and 9.91 years. Either way there is enough space to store
for at least 9.5 more years as long as the rate remains between 0.750 and
0.775. The calculations detailing this are as follows:
Remaining space in landfill = 75871.8 tonnes
Waste generation rate = 7650 tonnes/year

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

Number of years of storage remaining = 75871.8 tonnes / 7650 tonnes/year

= 9.91 years
Remaining space in landfill = 75871.8 tonnes
Waste generation rate = 7905 tonnes/year
Number of years of storage remaining = 75871.8 tonnes / 7905 tonnes/year
= 9.59 years
A buffer zone was created around the landfill footprint as a practical
representation of residual garbage that falls off the landfill during the
compaction process and also during severe weather events. It was
determined that a 10m buffer zone would be significant enough to capture
the majority of garbage, which is indicated in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure
4.
ArcScene was used for demonstrating a 3D visualization of the areas of the
landfill that will have to cut back and the areas that will allow for further
landfilling. The shades of red denote the areas that will have to be cut back
and the shades of blue denote the areas that will allow for further
landfilling, which is indicated in Figure 5.

Figure 5 - 3D Visualization for the Differential Topography of the Town of Gumby Landfill

4.0 Conclusion
After performing a spatial analysis of the Town of Gumby Landfill, a few
conclusions can be made. Interpreting and processing the data layers
derived an estimated volume of 126453 m 3. With a consistently attained
final compaction rate of 0.6 tonnes per m 3, the remaining space in the
landfill was estimated at 75871.8 tonnes. If the rates of waste generation
remain the same for years to come, the landfill can sustain constant filling
for at least 9.5 more years before reaching full capacity. Making the
necessary changes to the topography of the landfill will meet the
requirements for the MOEs certificate for approval.
7

Town of Gumby Landfill Analysis GISC9312D2 Submission Geospatial

Visualization

5.0 Recommendations
With a staggeringly impressive compaction rate of 0.6 tonnes per m 3,
investing in machinery that would increase that compaction rate even
further, would significantly increase the longevity of the landfill. The
accuracy of the processes for cutting and filling cannot possibly be
followed down to the decimal, so rounding is suggested.

6.0 Bibliography
1) Smith, Ian D. (2015) GISC9312D2 Raster Based Analysis of Terrain
Surfaces. Terms of Reference