THE USE OF GEOSPATIAL APPROACH IN ASSESSING LANDUSE AND LAND COVER OF MADALLA IN SULEJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE

                                                   ABSTRACT

This study examines the spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover of Madalla in Suleja Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State between 1984 and 2013, as well as, the rate of change, factors responsible and suggests measures on how to check the trend in order to maintain sustainable development. The study utilized ILWIS 3.3 software for the processing and classification of the tri-date (1984, 1995, and 2013) satellite images. The method for the analyses of the land use and land cover change is the Post-classification Comparison Method (PCM). Land use and land cover change data obtained from each period is presented in colour composite maps and tables. The results obtained show that the proportion of area covered by built up land, farm land and bare soil is on the increase, whilst there is decline in vegetation. Built up land increased from 7.041 km2 (or 5.2%) in 1984 to ( 45%) in 2013, farmland from 50.1 km2 (or 36.7%) decreases to (20.4%) and a decline in vegetation from 68.7 km2 (or 50.4%) in 1984 to 43.1 km2 (or 31.5%) in 2013. The study reveals that urbanization and population dynamic are largely responsible for the significant change and modifications in land use and land cover of Madalla in Suleja LGA. Indication from respondents in figure 4.10 showed the total number of respondents who responded to the question of factors responsible for landuse/land cover change of Madalla, bulk of the respondents (58.67% making 88) indicated that population dynamics (increase in population) has been the major factor responsible for the changes in landuse/land cover of Madalla, while (34.67% making 52) indicates urbanization (urban expansion) as factor responsible for landuse/land cover changes. These landuse/land cover changes lead to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, infrastructure overload, etc. To mitigate these impacts there should be constant monitoring of urban growth and changes in land use/land cover and put in place appropriate response mechanism in line with the towns and regional master plan to maintain sustainable development of Madalla and the entire Suleja LGA.

Keywords: Landuse, Land cover changes, Spatiotemporal, Sustainable Development, Satellite Images, Time lapse analyses, Urbanization, Population,

                                             TABLE OF CONTENTS

          Content                                                                                                                       Page

          Cover Page i

          Title Page ii

          Declaration iii

          Certification iv

          Dedication v

          Acknowledgement vi

          Abstract vii

          Table of Content                   viii

          List of Figuresxi

          List of Tables xii

           CHAPTER ONE:     INTRODUCTION

      Background of the Study 1

      Urbanization and Landuse/land cover Change 7

      Statement of the Problem 9

      Aim and Objective 10

      Justification for the Study 11

      The Study Area 12

Location 12

Historical Background 12

Geology and Topography 13

Climate 13

Temperature 14

Land-Use 14

      Definition of Terms 14

           CHAPTER TWO:   REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1      Review of Related literature 18

2.2      Utilization of Remote Sensing and GIS for Landuse/land cover change 27

2.3      Causes of Landuse/land cover change 29

2.4      Human-Environmental Interaction 30

2.5      Landuse/land cover Detection 31

2.6      Image Classification in Landuse/land cover Change Analysis 31

2.7      Change Detection in Landuse/land cover Change Analysis 33

         CHAPTER THREE    

3.0     Research Methodology 35

3.1     Data Sources