Disposal of radioactive wastes has been emerged as a vital issue for
Bangladesh as the country is actively working to be the nuclear power plant
operating country by 2023-2024. Current study aims to find out potential
sites for a near-surface disposal facility using geographic information
system software and multi-criteria analysis method. Previously six regions
(Region-1 to Region-6) were identified upon performing continental scale
screening over the whole territory of Bangladesh. In the current study,
regional scale screening has been performed over the Region-1 and Region-2
using five criteria divided into fifteen sub-criteria, namely earthquakes,
wind speed, rainfall, cultivated-vegetated land, forests,
buildings-facilities-build up areas (area),
buildings-facilities-Industries-institutions (Point), population density,
medium-broad road and railway, narrow road, power line, ground water table,
surface water body and lastly flood were used in the analysis. The
suitability map and relative importance weighting of these sub-criteria were
determined by using geographic information system and multi-criteria
analysis method. The overlay analysis was performed over suitability maps of
each sub-criterion and found final suitability map of the Region-1 and
Region-2. These suitability maps were divided into six category, namely
excluded area, most suitable, suitable, moderately suitable, unsuitable and
completely unsuitable. Nineteen potential sites with maximum and minimum
area of 7.90 km2 and 1.15 km2 were identified from these most suitable and
suitable areas. Detailed field investigation and site characterization are
needed to be performed on selected potential sites to choose a final
disposal site for the low and intermediate levels of radioactive waste.
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