Introducing SEMPaths.com: A Free Tool to Evaluate Surface Emissions Monitoring Coverage
- rreale5
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
When it comes to landfill Surface Emissions Monitoring (SEM), following a precise survey path matters. Even with the best intentions, terrain, weather, vegetation, and operator decisions can result in uneven survey coverage, potentially leaving areas that were not inspected at the prescribed path spacing.
That's why we're excited to introduce SEMPaths.com—a free online tool that helps landfill operators, environmental consultants, and regulators evaluate the effectiveness of completed walking SEM surveys.
Did Your Survey Achieve the Required Coverage?
Most SEM programs specify a maximum distance between walking paths to ensure the entire landfill surface is inspected. In practice, however, maintaining consistent spacing across steep slopes, active areas, and irregular landfill geometry can be challenging.
SEMPaths analyzes your completed GPS walking path and compares it against your landfill boundary to calculate the actual coverage achieved. The result is an easy-to-understand visual representation of areas that received adequate inspection coverage and areas that may require additional attention.
How It Works
Using SEMPaths is simple:
Upload a GeoJSON file containing the landfill work area.
Upload a CSV containing your GPS walking path with latitude and longitude coordinates.
Optionally include methane concentration (CH₄) data to visualize emission hotspots alongside your walking coverage.
Within seconds, SEMPaths evaluates your completed survey and produces a coverage map that helps you understand how effectively the landfill surface was inspected.
Why Evaluate Coverage?
Reviewing survey coverage provides valuable insights that can improve both compliance and operational efficiency.
Benefits include:
Verify that prescribed walking path spacing was achieved
Identify areas that may have been missed during the inspection
Improve consistency between field technicians
Document survey quality for internal quality assurance
Reduce the likelihood of incomplete inspections
Improve planning for future SEM events
Rather than relying solely on GPS tracks or visual estimates, SEMPaths provides an objective assessment of actual inspection coverage.
A Valuable Quality Assurance Tool
SEMPaths is not intended to replace your SEM program—it enhances it.
Whether you're conducting routine methane monitoring, training new field personnel, or reviewing contractor performance, SEMPaths provides an additional layer of quality assurance by confirming that the intended landfill surface was effectively covered.
For landfill operators managing hundreds of acres, even small improvements in walking efficiency and coverage consistency can translate into better inspections and greater confidence in monitoring results.
Free and Easy to Use
SEMPaths is available online and designed specifically for landfill Surface Emissions Monitoring workflows. With only a landfill boundary and GPS walking data, operators can quickly evaluate completed inspections and gain actionable insights to improve future surveys.
Start Evaluating Your SEM Coverage Today
Visit SEMPaths.com to upload your completed walking path, visualize inspection coverage, and see how effectively your landfill surface was monitored.
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