GIS modeling and social-oriented multicriteria evaluation in landfill site selection in rural areas-A case study of Serbian villages

Abstract

GIS modeling is a new tool used in landfill site selection in urban and rural areas. Previously used deterministic methods and techno-economic criteria used within multi-criteria evaluation proved to be insufficient in any relevant and accurate theoretical considerations, since the choice of methods and criteria resulted in a subjective evaluation. In addition, the problem also lay within the fact that the planning evaluation did not include social criteria in the context of the landfill site selection. This paper will present a new, adapted, and socially adjusted methodology which will improve expert multi-criteria evaluation for the selection of landfill sites, with a clear emphasis placed on social considerations (preferences of the local population, behavioral models, etc.). This methodology was applied to the selection of landfill sites in the territory of villages in the Stara planina Nature Park, located in Eastern Serbia. The research was conducted using the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst software, with the aim of stressing the importance of using mathematical and geostatistical analysis in planning practice. The overall conclusion of this research is that the degree of success in solid waste management in rural settlements primarily depends on the degree of participation of local residents in the decision-making process (especially in landfill site selection). The GIS model used in this research could be adapted to offer multiple applications in different location studies in spatial planning.