Research progress in remote sensing monitoring and assessment of solid waste

HAN Zhi-long; WANG Yi-fei; LI Ping; LI Lian-wei; YIN Shou-jing

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China Environmental Science ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3) : 1434-1443.

Solid Waste

Research progress in remote sensing monitoring and assessment of solid waste

HAN Zhi-long¹, WANG Yi-fei², LI Ping¹, LI Lian-wei¹, YIN Shou-jing^1,2

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Abstract

Primarily based on relevant literature from the Web of Science core database, it analyses the volume, content, and evolving trends of global and national research publications within this field. From an application perspective, solid waste remote sensing research is categorised into three domains: identification of solid waste disposal sites, site selection and suitability assessment, and environmental impact monitoring of disposal sites. Progress and emerging trends within each domain are systematically examined. Analysis reveals that current landfill identification approaches using low-resolution imagery predominantly employ GIS analysis and index construction, while high-resolution imagery applications frequently utilise deep learning techniques (object recognition, semantic segmentation). For site selection and suitability assessment, GIS platforms are commonly employed to conduct multi- criteria decision analysis integrating remote sensing indices (NDVI, NDWI, etc.) and topographical features (roads, water bodies, residential areas, etc.). Environmental monitoring primarily focuses on vegetation stress, surface thermal anomalies, and methane emissions. Current solid waste remote sensing research faces limitations in operationalising identification applications, lacks universally applicable site selection criteria, and has restricted environmental impact monitoring parameters. Building upon this, recommendations for advancing solid waste remote sensing research are proposed, aligned with environmental management requirements.

Key words

solid waste / remote sensing / identification / site selection / environmental impact / review / landfill site

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HAN Zhi-long, WANG Yi-fei, LI Ping, LI Lian-wei, YIN Shou-jing. Research progress in remote sensing monitoring and assessment of solid waste[J]. China Environmental Science. 2026, 46(3): 1434-1443

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