TERRAIN AND LAND USE/LANDCOVER ANALYSIS IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY-ABUJA, USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM.

Zubairu, M. and Folorunsho, J.O.*

Terrain analysis and land use/cover change using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) is an area of interest that is now attracting attention for land use management. This study focuses on analysis of the terrain and land use change in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja over a 22 year period. The study made use of topographical indicators (elevation and slope gradient) extracted from a digital elevation model and satellite imageries of 1987, 1999 and 2009 acquired from LandSat and Nigeria Sat-1 respectively. Chi-Square statistical analysis was adopted to test for the significant changes in the pattern of land use/land cover of the three times period studied. The results showed that the major LULC changes that occurred from 1987 – 2009 was an increase in built-up area and arable land at an average expansion rate of 0.42% and 1.37% per annum respectively and a decrease in savannah vegetation and rock outcrop at a decline rate of 0.98% and 0.85% per annum respectively. The results also showed that about 82% of the land use in Bwari Area Council is influenced by the landform characteristics as the topography pose severe constraints to development in most part of the study area. The test at 0.01 significant levels showed a statistically significant change with the X² value of 67362.27 between the land use types within the study period while significant relationship were also found between land use types and elevation classes as well as slope gradient. Major recommendations included the production of the master plan of the study area, suggestion of the need for the discouragement of the development and cultivation on vulnerable sloping lands within the study area, and revision of the development control policies guiding building of structures in the study area.

Key words: Terrain, Land use/Land cover, Federal Capital Territory.