Suitable Site Selection of Decentralised Treatment Plants Using Multicriteria Approach in GIS

K. Deepa, M. Krishnaveni

Center for Water Resources, Anna University.

DOI: 10.4236/jgis.2012.43030                

Abstract

Metropolitan cities like Chennai facing rapid urbanisation. This results in informal extension of cities in peri-urban and rural areas. Once the city expands the problem arising is the water supply and sewage treatment system. In the present work an attempt is made in site suitable selection of Decentralised treatment plants (DCTP) with appropriate waste water treatment technologies using GIS techniques. Multicriteria analysis were performed by the combination of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Six thematic maps were considered such as population density map, landuse map, slope map, soil map, cost map and technology. Different classes were identified for each thematic maps. Using Analytical Hierarchy Principle (AHP) [1] (Saaty, 2000), a paired comparison matrix was prepared for criteria classes and individual class weights and map scores were worked out. These weights were applied in linear summation equation to obtain a unified weight map containing due weights of all input variables. Finally all the weighted maps were reclassified to arrive the best suitable site location of decentralised treatment plants.

Keywords

GIS; Analytical Hierarchy Process; Wastewater; Reuse; Multicriteria

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	T. L. Saaty, “How to Make a Decision: The Analytic Hierarchy Process,” European Journal of Operational Research, Vol. 48, No. 1, 2000, pp. 9-26. doi:10.1016/0377-2217(90)90057-I
[2]	N. Looker, “Municipal Wastewater Management in Latin America and the Caribbean,” R. J. Burnside International Limited, Published for Roundtable on Municipal Water for the Canadian Environment Industry Association, 1998.
[3]	G. D. Rose, “Community-Based Technologies for Domestic Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: Options for Urban Agriculture,” N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, CFP Report Series: Report 27, 1999.
[4]	S. Volkman, “Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Urban Areas of the Developing World,” A Field Engineering in the Developing World Report, 2003.
[5]	A. Seshadri, “Decentralized Wastewater Management— An Overview of Community Initiatives,” The Vigyan Vijay Foundation, New Delhi, 2004.
[6]	T. L. Saaty, “Priorities and Hierarchies: Eigenvalue Structure,” Working Paper, University of Pennsylvania, 1972.
[7]	K. P. Anagnostopoulos and A. P. Vavatsikos, “GIS and Multicriteria Decision Support Systems: A Review,” Journal of European Water, Vol. 19/20, 2007, pp. 15-24.
[8]	T. L. Saaty, “The Analytic Hierarchy Process,” McGraw- Hill, New York, 1980.
[9]	S. Goyal, R. S. Bharadwaj and D. K. Jugran, “Multi Criteria Analysis Using GIS for Ground Water Resource Evaluation in Rawasen and Pili Watershed,” UP, 1999.