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Application of integrated methods in mapping waste disposal areas

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

An integrated suite of environmental methods was used to characterize the hydrogeological, geological and tectonic regime of the largest waste disposal landfill of Crete Island, the Fodele municipal solid waste site (MSW), to determine the geometry of the landfill (depth and spatial extent of electrically conductive anomalies), to define the anisotropy caused by bedrock fabric fractures and to locate potential zones of electrically conductive contamination. A combination of geophysical methods and chemical analysis was implemented for the characterization and management of the landfill. Five different types of geophysical surveys were performed: (1) 2D electrical resistance tomography (ERT), (2) electromagnetic measurements using very low frequencies (VLF), (3) electromagnetic conductivity (EM31), (4) seismic refraction measurements (SR), and (5) ambient noise measurements (HVSR). The above geophysical methods were used with the aim of studying the subsurface properties of the landfill and to define the exact geometrical characteristics of the site under investigation.

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Acknowledgments

The project is co-funded by the European Social Fund and National Resources in the framework of the project Archimedes: “Support of Research Teams of Technological Educational Institute of Crete”, sub-project 2.6.6–MIS86455 entitled “Application of innovative techniques in landfills”. We would also like to thank the Institute of Engineering Seismology and Earthquake Seismology-ITSAK (N. Theodoulidis and A. Savvaidis) for providing the CityShark Microtremor system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Laboratory of Geophysics and Seismology, 3 Romanou, Chalepa, 73133, Chania, Crete, Greece

    Pantelis Soupios, Ilias Papadopoulos, Maria Kouli & Filippos Vallianatos

  2. Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas (F.O.R.T.H.), Institute for Mediterranean Studies, Laboratory of Geophysical—Satellite Remote Sensing and Archaeo-Environment, Melissinou & Nik. Foka 130, 74100, Rethymno, Crete, Greece

    Nikos Papadopoulos & Apostolos Sarris

  3. School of Geology, Laboratory of Applied Geophysics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Nikos Papadopoulos & Ilias Papadopoulos

  4. School of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Stavromenos, 71004, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Thrassyvoulos Manios

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  1. Pantelis Soupios
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  2. Nikos Papadopoulos
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Correspondence to Pantelis Soupios.

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Soupios, P., Papadopoulos, N., Papadopoulos, I. et al. Application of integrated methods in mapping waste disposal areas. Environ Geol 53, 661–675 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0681-2

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