Indicator-Based Resilience Assessment of Biogeochemical Cover Systems for Landfill Gas Mitigation
摘要
The resilience of engineered system is increasingly critical as rapid climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Landfills contribute significantly to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) generated through microbial decomposition and other processes, despite mitigation efforts using gas collection and soil cover (SC) systems. To address this, a novel biogeochemical cover (BGCC) system was recently developed at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). BGCC typically features a dual-layer design: a lower methane oxidation layer (MOL) composed of biochar-amended soil to enhance CH₄ oxidation, and an upper carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration layer (CSL) utilizing alkaline industrial by-products such as basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag or cement kiln dust (CKD) to capture CO₂. Laboratory tests on two BGCC configurations-rice husk biochar with CKD (BGCC-RHCKD) and pinewood biochar with BOF slag (BGCC-PWBOF)-demonstrated significant potential for mitigating CH₄ and CO₂ emissions. To ensure long-term functionality and identify the most resilient cover design, this study conducted a comprehensive resilience assessment of both BGCC configurations-alongside a conventional SC. A semi-qualitative approach was employed, evaluating technical performance as well as environmental, social, and economic implications of potential cover failure. Resilience was quantified against various climate change-related shocks and stressors, with indicators systematically rated and aggregated into resilience index scores. Results indicate that the BGCC-RHCKD cover demonstrates the highest resilience to the identified shock and stressors, followed by BGCC-PWBOF and SC. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of indicator-based resilience assessments in integrating multidimensional resilience considerations into engineering projects from the early design phases.