Landfill Stabilisation and
Completion under the Landfill Directive: Development of a User
Interface for a Coupled Hydraulic-Biodegradation-Mechanical Model for
the Analysis of Decompostable Materials
UKW05
March 2006
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Background to research
The behaviour and management of wastes deposited in landfill, be they
municipal solid waste, mechanically biologically pre-treated waste or
incinerator residues is dependent upon a mixture of hydraulic,
biochemical and mechanical processes.
At field scale, these processes and their interdependence are poorly
understood; at best, they are accounted for using highly empirical
methods.
A coupled hydraulic-biodegradation-mechanical (HBM) model for the
analysis of decomposable materials such as landfilled waste has been
under development at Napier University.
Objectives of research
The research commissioned under UKW05 was to develop a Windows-based
Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the HBM model and to provide
supporting documentation, i.e. user manuals and a description of the
theoretical basis of the model.
Key outcomes and
recommendations
Graphical User Interface
A Graphical User Interface has been produced. The GUI communicates with
the HBM model, through two main parts: a preprocessor and a
postprocessor. On-screen help is available in both parts.
The preprocessor is a user-friendly environment in which to construct
landfill simulations.Using Windows functionality, the pre-processor
enables detailed site specific circumstances such as geometry, waste
type, filling sequence and climatic circumstances to be defined. From
here, all model input data files are prepared and the HBM model is run.
The postprocessor is a collection of graphical routines that are used
to interpret output data. Hydraulic, biodegradation and mechanical data
are presented as time series, spatial distribution, and combined
space-time plots. Plots can be refined using Windows-based
click-and-drag zoom or rescaling facilities and can be saved in a form
appropriate for presentation or publication.
Supporting
Documentation, Dissemination, Web Site
Supporting documentation comprises three manuals: User Manual, Examples
Manual, and Theory Manual, all of which contained within this report. A
web site has also been developed to maximise dissemination of, and
feedback on, all research outputs, www.sbe.napier.ac.uk/HBM
The GUI and HBM need to be installed from an installation file, which
can be downloaded from the web site or from the Research Contractor at
the address above. Updated versions of the GUI, HBM model, and
supporting documentation (either as manuals or onscreen help) will be
posted to the website. All materials are freely available.
Recommendations
The next major phase in the development of the combined HBM-GUI will be
a two part programme of validation. The first part will look at the
impact of input parameters on the performance and output of HBM model.
The second on user selection and range checking of input parameter
values within the GUI.
Key words:
Landfill; Waste; Hydraulic-Biodegradation-Mechanical Modelling;
Graphical User Interface.
Copies of this report are available from the Foundation, in electronic
format on CDRom at £20.00 + VAT or hard copy at
£50.00, less 20% to FWR members.
N.B.
The report is available for download from the SNIFFER Website