Remote‐Sensing Applications for Monitoring and Analysis of Waste Disposal Sites Using Satellite Images: A Review

ABSTRACT Landfills remain the predominant waste disposal method globally, yet their rapid expansion under intensifying urban pressures poses critical environmental threats at both local and global scales. These sites generate multiple hazards, including elevated surface temperatures, anthropogenic methane emissions, and leachate contamination. Given the inherent geotechnical instability of most landfills, continuous monitoring is essential; yet, conventional ground‐based approaches are prohibitively expensive and operationally challenging. This review examines the evolution and current state of satellite‐based landfill monitoring as a cost‐effective alternative. Remote sensing offers key advantages: nondestructive surveillance, repeated acquisitions, large‐scale coverage, and rapid change detection capabilities. The review traces the historical evolution of satellite‐based landfill analysis through primary themes including site detection and identification, continuous monitoring of landfill dynamics, methane emission quantification, thermal anomaly assessment, and environmental hazard evaluation. Combined advances in satellite technology, image processing algorithms, artificial neural networks, and statistical tools have enabled unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution for assessing geographical, morphological, and biophysical characteristics such as land cover changes, thermal patterns, greenhouse gas emissions, and watershed impacts. However, significant challenges persist in extracting meaningful information from vast data sets. Accurate analysis requires careful consideration of data accuracy limitations, atmospheric conditions, cloud cover, wind patterns, satellite geometry, and landfill‐specific variables. This paper charts the technological journey from early satellite applications to current capabilities, emphasizing the need for continued technological and analytical advancements to address the complex and dynamic nature of modern waste disposal sites.