Title: Shaping and delivering tomorrow's sustainable municipal solid waste management system: proposal for a structured data management infrastructure

Authors: Michael-Agwuoke Macbeda Uche; Jacqueline Whalley; Love Chile; Philip Sallis

Addresses: Geoinformatics Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand ' Geoinformatics Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand ' Institute of Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand ' Geoinformatics Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract: The monitoring and collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) data have been a daunting task. The development of a digital mapping, data collection, and data reporting system, allows for ease of data management and creation of a standardised system. This study develops a waste mapping and tracking system based on a structured ontological framework for an improved waste management system. The ontology is based on a four-level data framework in a zoned waste management system within a municipal area, regional or national boundaries. The waste flow system is designed to connect all facilities and activities in the zone and flexible to allow inter-zonal access to facilities that are existing outside a zone. Data tagging and collection strategies are developed to provide the vocabulary and standard for data encoding and recording of all knowledge-based information to help in the decision-making rules.

Keywords: structured data management; sustainable municipal solid waste management; waste management system flows; waste mapping and tracking system; ontological framework; activity nodes; four-levels data framework; waste management zones; zoned waste management system; data encoding and recording; knowledge-based information; decision-making rules.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2019.103646

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2019 Vol.24 No.4, pp.437 - 450

Received: 23 Nov 2017
Accepted: 25 Dec 2018
Published online: 18 Nov 2019 *

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