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

Using a GIS-Based Network Analysis to Determine Urban Greenspace Accessibility for Different Socio-Economic Groups, Specifically Related to Deprivation in Leicester, UK

Accessibility to greenspace by different socio-economic groups specifically related to deprivation in English city of Leicester was done using Geographical Information System (GIS) network analysis. The result was compared with ANGSt standard which provided the benchmark for accessing greenspace in UK. The result shows that greater percentage of socio-economically deprived group in Leicester lack access to greenspace within 300m from home. For distances of 2000m and 5000m, 70% do have access. This work has explored the use of GIS network analysis to assess the accessibility of greenspace among socio-economically deprived groups which will help those saddled with the responsibility of providing greenspace in carrying out their duties to ensure equity. This analysis can be extended to other groups in Leicester e.g. the handicap, elderly etc to assess how accessible greenspace is to them. Keywords: GreenSpace, GIS Network Analysis, ANGSt Standards, Deprivatio

A Remote-Sensing Based Assessment of Seasonal Variation in Vegetation Quality and Productivity in Nimbia Forest

Agriculture plays a vital role in the growth and sustainability of developing countries, such as those in sub-saharan Africa. Therefore, there is need to monitor and assess the changes taking place on vegetation quality and productivity. Conventional ground survey method has proved to be highly tedious, laborious and grossly limited especially when large and densely forested regions are concerned. This paper presents a remote sensing based approach as a real time technology to determine the effect and extent of water loss caused by seasons on vegetation quality in Nimbia forest, Kaduna State. ENVI 4.7, ArcGIS 10.0 and Global Mapper Softwares were used and a discrepancy of about 45% in quality of vegetation has been observed between seasons in the region under study. Keywords: Remote Sensing, Normalized Difference Vegetative Index, ENVI, ArcGIS

City densification and temporal dynamics of traditional inner core of Ibadan, Nigeria

The conversion of vegetation land cover contributes to the retention of solar radiation in the environment, resulting in the formation of the urban heat island. This study analyses the distribution pattern of urban heat island in the traditional core of Ibadan amidst the rapid urbanization experienced. The remote sensing tool was used to analyse the trend of land surface temperature, normalized difference built-up index, and normalized difference vegetation index for the traditional Ibadan's core between the year 2000 and the year 2020. This reveals that increasing built-up areas will continue to strengthen the effects of urban heat island in the traditional core of Ibadan, while vegetated land covers will weaken the effects of urban heat island. This is because anthropogenic activities resulting from rapid urbanisation has adversely altered the natural landscape in the traditional core of Ibadan. This alteration manifests in converting vegetation land covers into physical developments and other impervious surfaces by the increasing urban population. Thus, increasing the land surface temperature. The maximum average land surface temperature of 35.34℃, 36.62℃ and 31.86℃ were record for the years 2000, 2013 and 2020 respectively. This study further recommends that urban greening and proper urban planning should be encouraged in the traditional core of Ibadan