Land Use Dynamics and Expansion of the Built-Up Area in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

The dynamics of the urban form in relation to anthropogenic activities leaves much to be desired in its study for proper and timely planning of the urban environment. This, therefore, brings to bear the urgent need for the use of modern digital town planning techniques that can easily provide accurate data for efficient planning preference to the continual use of conventional analogue methods which make town planning data readily available. In view of this, this study monitored the growth of Benin City between 1987 and 2008 using the contemporary remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Thus, the study aimed at examining the trend of urban growth in the study area with a view to examining its consequence on the land use pattern. The methods adopted for this research involves the use of remotely sensed data from Landsat TM and Landsat ETM. Ground truthing was also carried out to corroborate the data from the satellite images. Secondary data from the literature relevant to the study were also obtained. The results showed that Benin City was expanding rapidly leading to an inverse spill over effect on the vegetation resources of the peripheral area. This has placed a serious burden on the Department of Town/ Land Use Planning saddled with the responsibility to properly integrate these adjoining rural settlements into the already existing urban form. In addition, the results showed that at the rate Benin-City was expanding, if not checked will in no distant future pose a threat to the micro-climate of the area and food production.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2506