Computing, Information Systems & Development Informatics Vol. 3 No. 4 , September, 2012 49 Using Geographic Information System to Select Suitable Landfill Sites For Megacities (Case Study of Lagos, Nigeria) Nwambuonwo, O. Jude & Mughele, E S Nwambuonwo. J.O & Mughele.E.S 1 Department of Industrial Safety & Environmental Management 2 Department of Computer Science Delta State School of Marine Technology Burutu, Delta State, Nigeria 1 nwambuonwo@yahoo.com 2 prettysophie@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Proper landfill site selection is the fundamental step in sound waste disposal and the protection of the environment, public health and quality of life. Proper landfill site selection determines many of the subsequent steps in the landfill process, which, if properly implemented, should ensure against nuisances and adverse long-term effects. For example, a well-selected landfill site will generally facilitate an uncomplicated design and provide ample cover material, which would facilitate an environmentally and publicly acceptable operation at a reasonable cost. The criteria involved in landfill site selection include environmental, economic and sociopolitical criteria, some of which may conflict. With increased environmental awareness, new legislation and certain other developments over time, the landfill site selection process has become much more sophisticated, as new procedures and tools have been developed (Ball, 2005). Increased environmental awareness and deepening environmental concerns in recent years have forced attention on the need to move towards a more sustainable society. These changes in attitudes in many parts of the world have been supported by changes in laws and policies on environment and waste disposal. In this context, the pressures and requirements placed on decision makers dealing with land fill by government and society have increased, as they now have to make decisions taking into considerations public satisfaction, environmental safety and economic practicality. This situation has created a need for more consistent and objective methods for making decisions; improved access to, and better management of environmental information. At the international level, criteria of differing degrees of detail exist as guidelines for the optimum siting of landfills (Baban and Flannagan, 1998). The role of Geographic Information Systems in solid waste management is very large as many aspects of its planning and operations are highly dependent on spatial data. In general, Geographic Information Systems plays a key role in maintaining account data to facilitate collection operations; customer service; analyzing optimal locations for transfer stations; planning routes for vehicles transporting waste from residential, commercial and industrial customers to transfer stations and from transfer stations to landfills; locating new landfills and monitoring the landfill. Geographic information system is a tool that not only reduces time and cost of the site selection, but also provide a digital data bank for future monitoring program of the site (Yagoub and Buyong, 2008). This research evaluates existing landfill sites in Lagos, establishes the need for new dumpsites and proposes candidate landfill sites, using Geographic information system as tool and World Bank standard of landfill sitting as criteria. Keywords - Social networks, threats, security, intrusion and attacks. 1. INTRODUCTION The absolute amounts of solid waste disposed of worldwide have increased substantially reflecting changes in consumption patterns, population, urbanization and transportation. Consequently, worldwide commercial, industrial and household wastes are now a bigger problem than ever. Despite increase in alternative techniques for disposing of waste such as composting and incineration, land filling remains the primary means of waste disposal. A sanitary landfill is a land disposal site for non-hazardous solid wastes in which wastes are spread in layers, compacted to the smallest practical volume, and covered with a material (sand or dirt or earth fill) at the end of each opening day (EMA, 1998). Dumps are sites strategically located to serve as a collection place for solid wastes; the wastes are only either incinerated or compacted in the dumpsites. Increased environmental awareness and deepening environmental concerns in recent years have forced attention on the need to move towards a more sustainable society. These changes in attitudes in many parts of the world have been supported by changes in laws and policies on environment and waste disposal. In this context, the pressures and requirements placed on decision makers dealing with land fill by government and society have increased, as they now have to make decisions taking into considerations public satisfaction, environmental safety and economic practicality. This situation has created a need for more consistent and objective methods for making decisions; improved access to, and better management of environmental information. At the international level, criteria of differing degrees of detail exist as guidelines for the optimum siting of landfills (Baban and Flannagan, 1998). In a complex society such as it is in many parts of the world today, there are many constraints to be considered. Many stakeholders could affect decisions on the use of a place. Players like government, the environment that must be protected, the people, demand and travel time amongst others have to be considered (Majaro and Abu, 2004).