Using MASW and Soil Borings to Characterize Heterogeneity of an Existing Solid Waste Landfill

The variability of solid waste properties is typically greater than observed for natural soils over comparable horizontal and vertical distances. Quantifying this variability is critical to the success of solid waste landfill retrofit and final cover designs. This paper presents data from a combined multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) and rotary soil boring investigation of a 60-year-old, 8-hectare solid waste landfill. This investigation provided input to a final cover design project. A comparison of the data illustrates where these technologies complemented each other for characterization of subgrade properties and where they conflicted. In general, the combined use of these technologies yielded valuable insights into subsurface conditions. The data also yielded parameters useful for modeling the spatial variability of old solid waste that can be used for future design analyses.