Monitoring Dynamics of Urbanization in Yenagoa, Nigeria Using Landsat Series

Abstract

The expansion in the human populace has brought about expanding paces of ecological changes in the recent decade. This expansion is liable for this change in urban development. The study aimed to assess the urbanization dynamics in Yenagoa between 1989-2016 using remote sensing and GIS techniques in data acquisition, analysis, and presentations. The results showed that in the periods 1989, 2002, and 2016, the built-up area showed a consistent increase over time, from 11.69 km² (9.6%) in 1989 to 29.851km² (24.5%) in 2002, and 76.33km² (62.6%) in 2016 of the total area. The bare land covered about 1.25km² (1.02%) in 1989 but decreased to about 0.02km² (0.02%) in 2002 and increased again to 0.97km² (0.8%) in 2016.  Similarly, the area covered by water body increased from 2.46km² (2.02%) in 1989 down to 2.48km² (2.03%) in 2002 and increased slightly to2.50 km² (2.05%) in 2016.  The areas covered by vegetation had a steady decrease from 106.51km² (87.36%) in 1989 down to 89.56km² (73.46%) in 2002, and 42.11km² (34.54%) in 2016. The trend in built-up was 9.59% in 1989, 24.49% in 2002, and 62.61% in 2016, and a projected land use extent was 82.82% in 2030. The test result of the hypothesis also showed that there is significant spatial variation in the extent of the built-up area in the Yenagoa metropolis between 1989-2016. This study recommended the enforcement of timely and appropriate land use planning which considers the requirements of social, economic, and environmentally sustainable development.