Megacity solid waste disposal suitability mapping in Dhaka, Bangladesh: an integrated approach using remote sensing, GIS and statistics

Selecting suitable Megacity Solid Waste Disposal (MSWD) sites is a challenging task in densely populated deltas of developing countries, exacerbated by limited public awareness about waste management. One of the major environmental concerns in Dhaka City, the world's densest megacity, is the presence of dumps close to surface water bodies resources. This study employed the Geographic Information System (GIS)-Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) framework to integrate geomorphological (slope and flow accumulation), geological (lithological and lineament), hydrogeological (depth to groundwater table and surface waterbody), socioeconomic (Land use land cover, distance to settlement, road, and airport), and climatological (wind direction) determinants, coupled by land-use and hydro-environmental analyses, to map optimal dumps (MSWD O) sites. The resulting preliminary (MSWD P ) map revealed 15 potential landfill areas, covering approximately 5237 hectares (ha). Combining statistical analysis of restricted areas (settlements, water bodies, land use) with AHP-based ratings, the MSWD O map revealed two optimal locations (2285 ha). Additionally, the hydro-environmental analysis confirmed the unsuitability of northern sites due to shallow groundwater (