A controlled release experiment for investigating methane measurement performance at landfills
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19568525 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rafee Iftakhar Hossain (St. Francis Xavier University), Pylyp Buntov (St. Francis Xavier University), Yurii Dudak (St. Francis Xavier University), Rebecca Martino (St. Francis Xavier University), Chelsea Fougère (St. Francis Xavier University), Shadan Naseridoust (Memorial University of Newfoundland), Evelise Bourlon (0000-0001-6156-5505, St. Francis Xavier University), Martin Lavoie (0000-0003-2348-7686, St. Francis Xavier University), Afshan Khaleghi (0000-0001-9226-4238, St. Francis Xavier University), Chelsie Hall (St. Francis Xavier University), David Risk (0000-0002-5747-1706, St. Francis Xavier University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-08 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Elementa Science of the Anthropocene (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2325-1026 • E-ISSN: 2325-1026 |
| Publisher | University of California Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1525/elementa.2025.00048 |
| OpenAlex | W7119514585 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 46 |
We assessed the performance of various methane measurement solutions in landfill applications during November 6, 2023 and November 14, 2023. A measurement solution is defined as a system or market offering that quantifies and/or localizes emissions. Our study involved full-scale multipoint- and area-source (dispersed) controlled releases of methane from the ground surface of a closed 25-ha landfill with collection system and a background emission rate of 24 kg/h. Most quantification methods performed well, but the truck-based Tracer Correlation method performed the best with an uncertainty of ±20%. Drone flux plane methods also performed well with an uncertainty of ±34% with very few outliers in the best-case scenario. For leak detection, aerial LiDAR demonstrated a 100% detection probability down to the lowest emission rates, whereas drone column sensors emulating EPA 21 surface emissions monitoring (SEM) were 100× less sensitive. Continuous sensors, trucks, and other methods were also assessed. Results indicate that many of the current quantification methods are effective, and potentially more accurate than first-order decay models, though they still need to be applied in a replicated fashion for robust site-level estimates. Detection outcomes were variable, and questions remain, such as how the evaluated methods would compare the against regulatory SEM method, the impact of spacing and trigger thresholds (which differ regionally in regulation), and what detection level is actually necessary for effective landfill gas management. This site provides a future test bed for answering these other questions
Calibration · Continuous monitoring · Drone · Landfill gas · Lidar · Measurement uncertainty · Methane · Methane emissions · Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics · Landfill Environmental Impact Studies · Odor and Emission Control Technologies
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| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |