Prototype expert system for site selection of a sanitary landfill

It is desirable to incorporate heuristic and empirical knowledge including hydrological and biogeochemical considerations into the selection process of a potential landfill site. In this article, a prototype expert system for the selection of a landfill site, with hybrid knowledge representation approach under object-oriented design environment in a blackboard architecture, is described. It incorporates an artificial neural network for training of partial hazardous scores and a fuzzy rule base for the representation of heuristic knowledge. The evaluation is based on the hazardous waste site ranking system recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency, adapted to Hong Kong conditions by incorporating the stipulation of some local regulations. It is shown to be a useful aid in assisting novice engineers in the selection process of a potential landfill site during preliminary investigation.