Application of geographical information system in disposal site selection for hazardous wastes

Background: the aim of this study was to provide a scientific method based on geographical information system(gis) regarding all sustainable development measures to locate a proper landfill for disposal of hazardous wastes,especially industrial (radioactive) wastes.methods: seven effective factors for determining hazardous waste landfill were applied in qom province, centraliran. these criteria included water, slope, population centers, roads, fault, protected areas and geology. the analysishierarchical process (ahp) model based on pair comparison was used. first, the weight of each factor wasdetermined by experts; afterwards each layer of maps entered to arc gis and with special weight multipliedtogether, finally the best suitable site was introduced.results: the most suitable sites for burial were in northwest and west of qom province and eventually five zoneswere introduced as the sample sites.conclusion: gis and ahp model is introduced as the technical, useful and accelerator tool for disposal siteselection. furthermore it is determined that geological factor is the most effective layer for site selection. it issuggested that geological conditions should be considered primarily then other factors are taken intoconsideration.