Spontaneous Settlements: Roles and Challenges to Urban Planning

Spontaneous settlements are referred to as an outward spread of built-up areas caused by expansion, with inadequate provision of facilities. The formation of spontaneous settlements is as a result of urbanization, where rents go high as the city evolves thereby moving the low income earners to the suburbs for easy access to places of opportunity for casual work at the same time not far away from the city. This study examines the characteristics of Spontaneous settlements, factors responsible for their existence, basic problems associated with Spontaneous settlements, their challenges to urban planning, efforts that have been put in place for checking spontaneous settlements and how effective they have been over time. The study specifically focuses on settlements in Iyana Iyesi, Mupin, Ayetoro areas in Ota, Ogun State. Data was collected through physical observations and questionnaires. Data was also obtained from published articles and from the National Population Commission census publication. Examination of an interpretation key, plotting of the study area, geo-referencing and editing of maps with ground data were done to have a precise view of the study area. From the analysis, the existence of high residential density, overcrowding, poor drainage network or lack of it and general poor basic infrastructure shows that, the study area is a typical depiction of a Spontaneous settlement. In concluding the paper, it posits making planning proposals and recommendations based on the findings, for upgrading of the Spontaneous settlement to be functionally effective. The paper also makes room for assisted spontaneous settlements to be considered as alternatives to administered settlements which will allow land to be invaded and then regularize the occupiers

Analysis of Thermal and Electrical Properties of Laterite, Clay and Sand Samples and Their Effects on Inhabited Buildings in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Buildings are faced with situations bothering on effects of heat and electric current flow on occupants. Thermal comfort as well as the quantity of current expected in buildings is of paramount importance. Core materials used in erecting buildings were considered during this study.   This study is meant to analyze the thermal and electrical properties of laterite, clay and sand samples thereby picking out the most suitable for inhabited buildings. Each sample of laterite, sand and clay was placed in the sample chamber of Lee's disc apparatus and sufficient heat was passed to the samples through the conical chamber. The in and out temperatures of the specimens were determined. The cooling curves of temperature against time were employed to determine their thermal conductivities while the resistivity was obtained through the thermocouple and multi-meter. A very low thermal conductivity of 3.5 x 101kgms-2ÆŸ-1 and high resistivity of 0.0337Ωm were obtained for laterite samples. The results obtained revealed that the samples considered have different thermal conductivities, electrical resistivity and rates of cooling. The rate of cooling of laterite sample showed that it has low temperature fluctuations when it absorbs heat. The salt content of laterite sample in Ota was observed to be very minimal due to small quantity of current flowing through buildings constructed with such laterite sample analyzed. The electrical and thermal conductivity of laterites show they can easily withstand high current and intense heat much more than clay and sand. Based on the thermal and electrical properties of laterites obtained, it is therefore imperative to establish the need to embrace it as local building material while sand and clay could be used in the production of pipes, roof tiles and interior floor where the heat conductivity is of secondary concern. Laterite based buildings using NBRRI interlocking should be encouraged more in Nigeria especially those living in hot regions