LANDFILL MANAGEMENT GPS guidance systems can help landfill operators optimise their use of space.
Optimising landfill operations GPS MACHINE GUIDANCE MAY BE THE FUTURE OF LANDFILL MANAGEMENT, ACCORDING TO ANDREW GRANGER, BUSINESS MANAGER FOR MINING, SOLAR AND LANDFILL SOLUTIONS AT POSITION PARTNERS.
A
s the population grows, so too does the demand for waste management facilities and the need for landfill management to be as efficient and productive as possible. Andrew Granger, Business Manager for mining, solar and landfill solutions at Position Partners says accurate and optimised compaction throughout landfill sites is critical to maximise savings on space, time, and resources. “Poor compaction exposes a landfill site to numerous risks, including inefficient airspace use, greater settlement and shortened cell life, all leading to lost time and money,” Andrew says. “Relying solely on an operator’s experience, no matter how skilled they are, is simply not accurate enough
to ensure these risks are adequately managed.” Andrew says introducing GPS-based machine guidance is a simple and effective way to empower operators with the information they need to accurately work to the landfill design. Software, such as the Landfill Grade system from Carlson, can be installed on any age, make or model of machine. The Landfill Grade system has been specifically designed for landfill compaction and includes a GPS antenna mounted to the roof of a machine, sensors fitted to the body and an in-cab display that give the operator a clear, visual representation of their position and distance to the compaction grade.
Andrew says that airspace optimisation and longer cell life are also major factors in achieving landfill optimisation. “The costliest aspect of running a landfill over time is daily waste placement activities,” he says. “GPS machine guidance enables operators and managers to use every cubic metre of space as efficiently as possible, optimising airspace while saving on machine wear and fuel usage.” Andrew says exactly how much compaction can be increased differs from site to site. He says some operators report a five per cent increase over a year, while others have seen a 20 per cent jump in compaction in as little as three months.
www.wastemanagementreview.com.au / WMR / 27
