MUHAMMAD ELIUS
University of California, Berkeley, PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering
EREF Scholar 2025
Assessment and Management of Emissions from MSW Landfills: Direct Measurement and Modeling
Landfills are the third largest source of human-related methane (CH4) emissions in the US, a greenhouse gas over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in a shorter period. Yet, measuring landfill methane remains highly uncertain, with satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors often giving inconsistent results. My research uses high-resolution atmospheric modeling (WRF-Chem) to simulate landfill emissions under different weather and management conditions. This approach helps test how well monitoring methods detect emissions, optimize sensor placement around landfills, evaluate the role of landfill covers and gas well controls, and reconcile gaps between top-down and bottom-up estimates. By improving methane measurement, sensor network design, and management strategies, this work supports cost-effective solutions for landfill operators, regulators, and policymakers to reduce emissions and combat climate change.
Biography
Muhammad Elius is a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in atmospheric modeling. His doctoral research focuses on methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills, combining advanced modeling with measurement strategies to reduce uncertainties and support effective mitigation. Working on an EPA-funded project, he employs the WRF-Chem model to evaluate methane emission dynamics, sensor network design, and climate impacts, aiming to provide scientific insight for sustainable waste management and climate policy.
Prior to pursuing his PhDs, Elius earned a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2023. His master’s research centered on marine biofouling, where he studied the performance and durability of superhydrophobic surfaces in marine environments. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2019, with a research focus on computational fluid mechanics, particularly supersonic jet flows. From his early academic journey to his current doctoral work, Elius’s path reflects a growing commitment to applying engineering tools to address pressing environmental challenges and to advancing sustainable climate solutions.
