AN ANALYSIS OF LANDUSE CHANGES USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TECHNIQUES

AN ANALYSIS OF LANDUSE CHANGES USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM TECHNIQUES

INTRODUCTION

This study is on the application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) Techniques to the examination of the nature of landuse changes in the northern district of Kaduna metropolis from 1965 to 2003. Population influx to towns and cities often resulte in urban expansion and sprawling, pushing the urban environment influences into the adjacent rural lands with attendant changes in landuse types, intensity and landscape quality. That is how Kaduna metropolis, a former political regional headquarters for more than half a century, grew. Field observations show that its expansion has had great impact on the surrounding rural lands. Scanty records both in maps and written documents were available to show the nature of the changes that had taken place. Thus, reconstruction of changes in landuse becomes difficult with probable large errors and speculations. Yet, there is a dire need for an understanding of the dynamics of landuses on the urban periphery for effective planning, management and provision of utilities. Nowadays, earth-mapping technology offers good opportunities for investigating landuse changes that have taken place in the past. Hence, this study investigates the landuse changes in the northern part of Kaduna metropolis using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Techniques.