Flood vulnerability: Impending danger in Sabon-Gari Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

This study examines the vulnerability of buildings to flooding and the danger posed at Sabo Gari area of Minna, Niger State. Sabon-Gari which is one of the 22 neighborhoods found in Minna is a highly populated area as people who cannot afford to stay in the low density areas (Government Reserve Area - G.R.A) move to this area in search for cheap accommodation and this has created a lot of housing need amongst the resident of Sabon-Gari. High demand for housing in the study area has prompted the landowners and developers to develop their properties with little or no regard for Government approved codes and standards. Indiscriminate development and erection of buildings along water ways make the inhabitants of such buildings highly vulnerable to flooding during high precipitation. A quick bird image which is a panchromatic of 65 centimeter pixel resolution was used for the study. A vulnerability assessment was carried out using ArcGis 10 software and a vulnerability map was prepared showing the vulnerable buildings within the study area. The coping strategies employed by the inhabitants ofSabon-Gari were also identified through Questionnaires administered. The buildings along the river channels were marked and the study reveals that danger looms in the study area with respect to flood.The result of analysis suggests that quick mitigating efforts be put in place to avert and or reduce this impending disaster. Hence, certain structures on waterways needs to be demolished, silted drainages should be cleared and stiffer measure be put in place by law enforcement agency to check the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal in drainages.Keywords: Vulnerability, Geospatial, Mitigation, Digital Elevation Model, Floo

Poor development control as flood vulnerability factor in Suleja, Nigeria

Like many developing countries over the decade, Nigeria has experienced rapid urbanization associated with numerous problems such as, among others, improper waste management practices, building development regulations and standards contraventions, environmental pollution, overcrowding, and flooding. In light of the foregoing, this article examines the use and effectiveness of development control measures in addressing flood vulnerability in Suleja, Nigeria. In carrying out this study, buildings vulnerable to flooding were identified and factors influencing their vulnerability as well as the implications of non-adherence to development control measures were also determined. As part of this study, a total of 278 questionnaires were administered to adult residents of the study area, using multi-stage sampling techniques. A quick bird’s eye image of 15-meter resolution was used to identify and map out the buildings in the area considered vulnerable to flooding, using a 15-meter setback from the river banks. The study reveals that 799 buildings were built in contravention of building development standards and regulations in Suleja, while indiscriminate solid waste disposal methods were found to be strong factors influencing vulnerability to flooding in the area. The study also revealed that 47% of drainages in Suleja are blocked with indiscriminately disposed solid waste materials. The study recommends that an improved solid waste management system for Suleja be put in place to stem the imminent outbreak of diseases associated with poor environmental management and that development control measures be strictly enforced by the Niger State Urban Development Board.&nbsp

Emergency distress call system for automobiles in Lagos state, Nigeria

Distress calls are made whenever a road mishap occurs. But regrettably, every year more and more Nigerians die as a result of failure of emergency response system in coming to the aid of victims of road accidents on time. Although there are flashes of intervention and reform initiatives at both federal and state levels, these efforts are often under resourced, uncoordinated, too dispersed and not sustained long enough to provide sufficient care for victims. The detection of the location of the scenes of road mishaps must also be accurate and precise so that the ambulances awaiting dispatch message will receive the correct information. This research work incorporates information and communications technology capabilities to transportation and the medical care system in order to save lives, reduce mortality rates and increase the efficiency of emergency response with respect to situations requiring urgent medical attention. This is achieved with the design of an interface, using PHP that receives a distress signal sent via SMS and indicates the location of the accident by means of Google Maps. The use of Google Maps ensures the accuracy of the geographical location of the accident and this consequently assists the paramedics in getting to the accident victims on time, thereby saving lives.Keywords: : Distress call, road mishap, SMS, LASAMBUS

Assessment of solid waste management systems in Ibadan North, Oyo State using geo-spatial techniques

Solid waste management has been part of human activities right from time. Effort by the Oyo State Government in managing the collection and disposal of waste generated in Ibadan is seen in the provision of Skip bins at specific locations across the city. However, despite the provisions made by the government, an emerging trend is the dumping of refuse along the median of some major and collector roads in the city. This study aims at emphasizing a planning framework for the location of solid waste disposal infrastructure (Skip bins) through the adoption of planning standard. The aim of this study was achieved by identifying the existing skip bins within Ibadan North. More so, a spatial analysis of skip bins and resident's access to solid waste facilities within Ibadan North was deduced. Geospatial techniques were used for this study; data from primary and secondary source were also used to corroborate the geospatial findings. The study identified a total of 37 skip bins located within Ibadan North Local Government, serving the entire Ibadan North. Spatial analysis of the skip bins revealed a clustered distribution which is consequential to indiscriminate solid waste disposal within Ibadan North.   The study recommends adequate provision and location of skip bins to contribute to a cleaner and safer environment and a design blue print for Ibadan North was proposed.Keywords: GIS, Median, Nearest Neighbour Analysis (NNA), Skip Bin