Optimized Sampling Schemes for Filling Material
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Optimized sampling schemes for filling material Applied on contaminated sites through statistical analysis Master of Science Thesis in the Master Degree Programme Geo and water engineering ANDREAS JOHANSSON MAJA ÅNELIUS Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Division of GeoEngineering CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Gothenburg, Sweden, 2011 Master’s Thesis 2012:9 MASTER’S THESIS 2012:09 Optimized sampling schemes for filling materials Applied on contaminated sites through statistical analysis Master of Science Thesis in the Master’s Programme Geo and Water Engineering A. JOHANSSON M. ÅNELIUS Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Division of GeoEngineering Engineering Geology Research Group CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Göteborg, Sweden 2011 Optimized sampling schemes for filling materials Applied on contaminated sites through statistical analysis A. JOHANSSON M. ÅNELIUS © A. JOHANSSON & M. ÅNELIUS, 2011 Examensarbete / Institutionen för bygg- och miljöteknik, Chalmers tekniska högskola 2012:9 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Division of GeoEngineering Engineering Geology Research Group Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 Göteborg Sweden Telephone: + 46 (0)31-772 1000 Cover: Left: Filling materials from one of the reference sites, see page 19. Upper right: Grain size distributions for different soil classes, see page 21. Lower right: Confidence levels for one of the studied sites, see page 50. Chalmers Reproservice / Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Göteborg, Sweden 2011 Optimized sampling schemes for filling materials Applied on contaminated sites through statistical analysis Master of Science Thesis in the Master’s Programme Geo and Water Engineering A. JOHANSSON & M. ÅNELIUS Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Division of GeoEngineering Engineering Geology Research Group Chalmers University of Technology ABSTRACT An important part of contaminated site investigations is the initial soil survey. There are many well working systems about the spatial pattern design of the soil samples during the survey. However, as it is uncommon to submit all collected soil samples for chemical analysis it is important that the selection of which samples to send is performed in a structured and statistically sound manner. This thesis aim is to contribute to the research by providing a tool that will increase both the environmental and economic sustainability for environmental analysis of contaminated sites. The specific aim of the thesis is to provide a tool that helps to select which samples to send to chemical analysis by analyzing the variance in contamination levels in filling materials. The thesis is focused on the contaminant Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs, which are common pollutants that can be found at many contaminated sites and are hazardous to both human health and the environment. Five reference sites in western Sweden have been chosen for the study, all consisting of anthropogenic soil. A soil classification system has been developed and used to divide the soil samples into different classes, or strata, for which statistical analysis has been performed. The focus of the statistical analysis has been to compare three different sampling schemes; simple random sampling, proportional stratified random sampling and optimal stratified random sampling. From this, a recommendation on how to optimize the soil survey using a statistical analysis on the sample selection procedure will be formulated. The result indicates that there is a correlation between soil class and contamination level and that the number of chemical analysis can be decreased if using an optimal stratified random sampling scheme. However, this only applies to sites contaminated by a diffuse source. Since some information about the basic statistics of the strata is necessary in order to perform an optimal stratified sampling scheme the method is more suitable if surveys have previously been performed. Finally, the recommendation from this thesis is that designing a sampling scheme using the optimal stratified random sampling is a tool that is well suited if sampling has been performed in the area before and the materials are non-landfill materials with a diffuse contamination. The thesis also suggests a methodology on how to design a sample scheme using optimal stratified random sampling. For the most reliable result the field survey should not consist of auger drilling only. An excavation pit will give a better result since it provides a better view of the soil stratification and includes all grain sizes. Key words: Contaminated land, PAH, filling material, stratified sampling, soil survey, statistical simulation, sampling scheme, survey design v vi Table of Contents Figures, tables and images ..................................................................................................................................... ix Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................. xi Preface ................................................................................................................................................................. xiii Notations .............................................................................................................................................................. xiv Glossary and abbreviations ................................................................................................................................. xvii 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Problem definition ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Aim ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Delimitations ......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Method ................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Disposition ............................................................................................................................................. 4 1.6 Permit to use data .................................................................................................................................. 5 2 Theoretical background .................................................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Previous research ................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Field Survey Procedure ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, PAH ................................................................................................ 9 2.4 Statistics ............................................................................................................................................... 10 2.4.1 Statistical parameters .................................................................................................................. 10 2.4.2 Stratified random sampling ......................................................................................................... 11 2.4.3 Random sampling simulation ..................................................................................................... 12 2.4.4 Sensitivity Analysis .................................................................................................................... 13 3 Reference Cases ........................................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Site A: Surte 2:38, Ale ......................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Site B: EKA Chemicals, Bengtsfors .................................................................................................... 16 3.3 Site C: Göta Älv bridge, Gothenburg .................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Site D: Kvillebäcken, Gothenburg ....................................................................................................... 18 3.5 Site E: Hexion, Mölndal ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.6 Overview of site conditions ................................................................................................................. 20 4 Soil Classification ........................................................................................................................................ 21 4.1 Class I: Refuse ..................................................................................................................................... 21 4.2 Class II: Friction Soils ........................................................................................................................