Trash
k
l
ta
speaks volumes
Landfill operations use geospatial services to help with
crucial measurements – and the bottom line
By Jason Sweet
A
bird’s-eye view of a landfill site may not
reveal how much it’s the result of careful
measurement and planning. But it is. It has to
be. Landfill operators want their facilities to function
safely and efficiently – and profitably – as they
adhere to regulations. To do this requires constant
monitoring and frequent measuring of landfill data.
Calculating volume may invoke math class memories
for some, but for landfill operators, it’s way more
than a mathematical exercise. Volumetric landfill
quantities are possibly the most useful data they
have for planning facilities wisely, operating
efficiently, and maintaining financial viability. So
2│ TRENDS
how does one go about measuring the volume of a
landfill? It’s back to that bird’s-eye view for starters.
Ayres Associates provides geospatial services for
landfills around the country.
Cornerstone Environmental Group recently worked
with Ayres Associates to provide geospatial services
for 21 active landfill sites in seven states. Using its
Leica digital aerial camera from a Cessna aircraft,
Ayres Associates acquired aerial imagery and then
created 2-foot interval topographic contours of the
active sites.