Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System Application in Assessing Urban Sprawl of potiskum Town, Yobe State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The Urban Sprawl is a global phenomenon associated with population increase which is characterized by an un-planned and uneven pattern of growth, driven by a multitude of process and leading to inefficient resources utilization. This paper assesses the effect of expansion of potiskum Metropolis and appraise the changes that occurred in the landscape from 2000 to 2020. The study made up of information extracted from Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+ 2000, 2010 and 2020) satellite images, the spatial location of some notable points within and around the study area as well as attribute data obtained of the study area through Questionnaire. The images were used to increase a False Color Composite (FCC) where the training polygon were chosen and classified based on their spectral signatures. The spatial locations were overlaid on the Topographical Map and on imageries for appraisal. The Questionnaires distributed and retrieved were administered for attribute information. The results revealed from the classification that from 2000 to 2010, the built-up area increased from 270.09 to 307.80hectas which is 1.91 and 2.17% of the total area covered and from 2010 to 2020, the built-up area increase from 307.80 to 1270.52hectres that is 2.17 to 10% of the total area which is more than triple to the increase between 2000 to 2010. The system revealed in the results that the area will in the next 20 years increase by 70.253700km² which is 51% of the total area. The questionnaire administered revealed that majority of the increase in population are predominantly youths between the age 26 to 46 which covers 69% of the increase and are mostly Nigerians from different places which might be probably due to insurgency. The system used CELLULAR AUTOMATA (CA) for the allocation of new built-up area into other land use classes. The research recommends government/stake holders to develop policies to maintain the land for future use, as the absence of any land use planning may lead to land degradation.