Change Detection in Landuse/ Landcover of Abeokuta Metropolitan Area, Nigeria Using Multi-Temporal Landsat Remote Sensing

Abstract

This research paper examined the changes in land use/ land cover of Abeokuta, Nigeria between 1984 and 2015 using Multi-Temporal Landsat Remote Sensing paired with Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. The evaluation of the trend, rate and magnitude changes was the objectives of this study.  Five Landsat satellite images of different dates,  i.e., Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) of 1984, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2015 with spatial resolution ranging from 15, 30 and 60metres were obtained from National Aeronautics Space Administration(NASA),United State Geological Survey Website and  GIS facility of Sioux Falls Website  and quantify the changes  over a period of thirty-one (31) years. Supervised classification methodology was applied to the acquired multi-band raster imageries using maximum livelihood technique in ERDAS Imagine 9.3. The images of the study area were classified into three (3) classes namely; vegetation, water body and built-up area and were overlay with vector maps of the study area generated in ArcGIS 10. The results show that for the period of 31years (1984-2015), vegetation which covered 76.20% of the total area has decreased to 39.29%, water body decreases from 6.63% to 1.89% while the built –up area which initially was 17.14% as at 1984 increased to 58.82%. The study, however, recommended that there is a need for a timely Land use/ Land cover mapping of the entire Abeokuta and its environs in order to reduce the effects of undiscrimate land utilization in the area. This will also facilitate necessary Land use planning and forestall the rising sprawl not only in Abeokuta but also in other urban centres.