High-resolution landfill characterization using SAR remote sensing and cloud-based processing

Abstract

Solid waste management in developing countries such as India faces persistent challenges due to weak monitoring systems and the absence of reliable reporting mechanisms for landfill statistics. To address this gap, this study develops a remote sensing methodology that integrates Python programming with the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) to generate Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) from Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for quantifying landfill characteristics. Key parameters, including waste height and volumetric estimates, were extracted from satellite observations and processed through Google Earth Engine (GEE), enabling efficient large-scale analysis. A total of 80 landfill sites distributed across India were examined, providing the first nationwide assessment of landfill volume using a uniform and replicable framework. Field validation was conducted at two representative sites, Gondiya Landfill and Ujjain Ring Road Trenching Ground, through drone surveys and Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) measurements. The evaluation showed deviations of 21.12% and 0.12% in height, 0.7% and 0.65% in area delineation, and 20.21% and 0.8% in volume for Gondiya and Ujjain, respectively, confirming the reliability of the proposed approach. These results demonstrate that SAR-based DEMs offer a cost-effective and scalable solution for systematic, near real-time monitoring of landfills across large regions. The framework not only supports capacity planning, environmental assessments, and policy formulation but also provides a pathway for developing countries to transition toward data-driven waste management strategies in the context of rapid urbanization and increasing waste generation. © The Author(s) 2025.