assessing vulnerability of a solid waste management system through gis and the rank sum method: a case study of durgapur city, india

The present study aims to assess the vulnerability of the durgapur municipal corporation (dmc) in west bengal, india, to hazards associated with solid waste through a multi-criteria analysis method integrated with geographic information systems (gis). durgapur, a rapidly urbanizing industrial city, faces significant challenges in managing the increasing volume of waste, leading to potential threats to the environment and public health. this study employed a rank sum (rs) method to weigh and assign importance to eleven critical factors influencing waste hazard vulnerability. data was collected through field surveys and existing gis databases, focusing on 43 wards within dmc. the factors were ranked based on their importance in contributing to vulnerability, with waste collection, waste generation, and frequency of waste collection identified as the most significant. using weighted overlay analysis (woa), vulnerability maps were prepared to identify areas within dmc that were most at risk from inadequate waste management practices. the results revealed that approximately 12.15% of durgapur’s area, encompassing 15.19% of the population, falls under very high vulnerability zones, necessitating immediate intervention to improve waste management and reduce associated risks. the research highlights the significance of combining spatial analysis with multi-criteria decision-making techniques to identify and mitigate urban vulnerabilities. the results provide crucial insights for urban planners, policymakers, and municipal officials in developing and executing efficient waste management strategies.