TY  - JOUR
AU  - Dinh, Pham Van
AU  - Toi, Pham Van
AU  - Dung, Hoang Tuan
AU  - Bach, Leu Tho
AU  - Hung, Pham Tuan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/25
TI  - Application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Assessing the Current Condition and Closure Design of Da Mai Landfill (Vietnam)
JO  - Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research
SP  - 010
VL  - 07
IS  - 02
AB  - Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills remain a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, leachate pollution, and land degradation, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where many sites operate beyond their design capacity. This study proposes an integrated and low-cost framework combining unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry with environmental assessment to support landfill closure planning. Using the Da Mai landfill (Vietnam) as a case study, high-resolution orthomosaics and a digital surface model (DSM) were generated with a vertical RMSE of 5 cm. UAV imagery and terrain analysis revealed major operational problems, including uncontrolled filling, steep, unstable slopes, damaged leachate drainage, surface ponding, and inadequate daily cover. The landfill was estimated to contain 229,602 m3 of waste in the upper part, with elevations up to 8.5 m, exceeding the design limit by 1.5 m. Based on UAV-derived spatial parameters, potential greenhouse gas emissions and annual leachate generation were estimated at 62,710 tCO2e/year and 33,729 m3, respectively. These results indicate the need for early closure intervention at an elevation of 8.5 m. Compared with conventional surveying, the proposed approach improves spatial coverage, reduces field time, and provides practical engineering inputs. The study demonstrates that UAV photogrammetry can support both the diagnosis of landfill problems and closure planning. Additionally, further research should explore UAV applications in monitoring landfill operations pre- and post-closure.
SN  - 2766-6190
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2602010
DO  - 10.21926/aeer.2602010
ID  - Dinh2026
ER  -