Evaluating Wind Erosion Sensitivity for Landfill Sites in New Mexico Using Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)

The final closure veneer for municipal solid waste landfills must be designed to withstand an allowable annual soil loss from wind erosion over its design life. Veneer sensitivity depends on a multiplicity of intertwined variables. A Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is used evaluate weightings specific forcing function criteria assess overall (WES) at current and former landfill locations based input multiple decision makers selected consulting, regulatory, academe sources. FAHP weights represent the degree importance given relative criterion. For WES assessment, three were identified: climatic factor (CF) as power density (WPD) effective precipitation index (EPI), vegetation cover (VC), erodibility (WEI). results revealed almost equal WPD VC with WEI being lesser important criteria. Rankings thirteen in New Mexico showed that Las Cruces was most susceptible Los Alamos Clines Corner least susceptible. assessment methodology useful identifying potential hot spots respect maintenance landfills.