Web-based monitoring of year-length deployments of autonomous gas sensing platforms on landfill sites

Abstract

This paper describes multiple field deployments of autonomous gas monitoring platforms spanning durations in excess of 12 months. These trials form part of an on-going collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in monitoring landfill migration of greenhouse gases, i.e. methane (CH <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">4</sub> ) and carbon dioxide (CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> ). Target gas concentrations were automatically recorded via infrared (IR) gas sensors calibrated for the respective gases, with this data being logged remotely every six hours to a central base-station. The autonomous platform with its web-based portal interface provides a flexible alternative to the existing labor-intensive, manual monitoring routines. The duration of the data herein represents one of the longest continuous field deployments of an environmental monitoring device. The real-time monitoring of the gas levels achieved by the bespoke platforms has proven to contribute significantly towards the improved management of landfill sites.