Design of groundwater monitoring networks for landfills

A method is discussed for designing a monitoring system under parameter uncertainty. This method places a given number of wells (the number selected by the analyst or user) in locations that maximize the probability of detection of a plume. The method requires some prior knowledge of the statistical properties of the conductivity parameters of the aquifer and some knowledge of the probability of a leak occurring at any given point in the landfill. The method is microcomputer based and currently runs on an advanced microcomputer workstation. The possibility for its adaptation to a more readily available microcomputer is discussed. -from Authors