URBAN-INDUCED LANDUSE / LANDCOVER CHANGES IN ZARIA KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
URBAN-INDUCED LANDUSE / LANDCOVER CHANGES IN ZARIA KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2016-03
Authors
OKEWU, Amedu Augustine
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Abstract
This study aimed at analysing urban-induced landuse and landcover changes in Zaria between 1990 and 2014, using Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing techniques. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) of 1990, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) of 1999, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) of 2006 and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) of 2014 were used. Supervised classification was employed using maximum likelihood classifier to classify the images into LULC classes. Also overlay analysis was used to determine the changes within the period. The result from the analysis showed that built-up areas witnessed consistent increase over time and this was basically because of increased population and consequent conversion of other land uses into residential areas. Also, the extent of urbanization throughout the study period witnessed the highest level between 1999 and 2006. Finding on landuse/landcover changes that were affected most during the study period reveals that agricultural land lost about 31.3km2 while vegetative land lost about 36.75km2, whereas built-up increased from 40.37km2 in 1990 to 55.8 km2 in 2014 which signifies an increase of about 15.43km2 and a progressive encroachment of built-up areas into other land uses. The rate of urban-induced landuse/landcover change showed an annual rate of change to be 5.67% for the study period. Finally, it was observed that landuse landcover had changed significantly over the period of study (1990s-2014). This could be explained by the rapid population growth in Zaria; an increase in the diversity of functional activities; growing demand for lands for residential housing and other land-based activities. The study has indicated that urbanisation and its functional activities were gradually taking over the negligible lands. It is therefore recommended that regular landuse change studies should be carried out more frequently by researchers and other stakeholders to detect urban induced landuse/cover changes in the study area so as to ensure a more sustainable urban development.
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A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM AND REMOTE SENSING
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA