GIS and Matrix based Methods for Environmental Impact Assessment for Bwari New Town Development Area, FCT, Nigeria

Abstract

Geographical information systems matrix-based assessments plays vital role in providing opportunity to enhance environmental impact assessment. This research was carried out in order to assess Environmental Impact Assessment for the Development New Town site in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria using Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing and Matrix based methods. In order to achieve the aim and objectives of the research, various raw data were collected, which include beacon sheet of the study area, the draft proposed new town development plan, ASTER and other satellite images. The proposed plan for the new town development was designed using AutoCAD software environment imported into ArcGIS software environment for subsequent analysis and results presentation. Also, the ASTER image and various baseline data were generated from ASTER and other satellite imagery in ArcGIS environment. Also, various overlay analysis were conducted in order to identify the areas that have major impact that are likely to be affected by the proposed new town development plan. The analysis revealed that the area that are severely affected is the land use land cover classes generated from 2014 image, as well as the watershed drainage basin, flow accumulation, flow direction (runoff) and stream order that are affected. The results of the various overlay operations used to identify the area that has major impact by the new town development found that neighbourhood/commercial land use area covered about 78.8% on bare land and encroached up to 46.9% on rock outcrop. However, the results indicate that the overall positive effect far outweigh the adverse effects.