Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection in Ilorin, Nigeria, Using Satellite Remote Sensing

Abstract

In this paper, land use and land cover change detection of Ilorin and its immediate environs for three (3) periods of twenty-eight (28) years was conducted. Since several advantages are associated with macroscopic and multi-temporal observation, four satellite images of different dates (1976, 1987, 1994 and 2004) were interpreted and analyzed to extract the detailed information for identification of the changes. To obtain the changes in the classes, the traditional approach of post classification comparison was followed. Observed consequences of city growth and land use and land cover changes were identified with a view to drawing the attention of relevant stakeholders in the urban environmental sector to the need to severely curtail those of the changes that are unwarranted. The successful preparation of change maps, once again, buttress the usefulness of satellite remote sensing in detail mapping and land use change detection studies. The negative effects of changes should always be adequately addressed to reduce their impact to the barest minimum on humans and environment.

Key words: Country side, Synoptic view, Ancillary Data, Revisit Capability, Nigeria Sat-1