Waste Disposal Site Selection using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Study of Akure and its Environs, Southwest-Nigeria

Abstract

Waste disposal has been a serious challenge in Nigerian cities especially as rural-urban migration intensifies. While overwhelming scientific evidences abound that global warming is taking a significant toll on the Earth and its occupants, Nigeria is striving to join other countries in mitigating the effects. One way of intensifying the mitigation is through appropriate and environmentally-friendly waste disposal and management. All manners of wastes are usually disposed of without any serious consideration for the environment. Open incineration is a very common means of waste disposal in developing countries. In spite of the meager contributions of this group of nations to industrial growth, open incineration method of waste disposal hugely adds to the problem of climate change. It has been observed that there is the tendency to dispose wastes indiscriminately and in an uncoordinated manner, thereby resulting in unhealthy environment. In this study, a satellite imagery covering Akure and its environs was analysed using ArcView GIS 3.2a to develop a user interface for selecting a waste disposal site with special emphasis on geologically suitable conditions. This study aims at demonstrating the potential and efficiency of using GIS in selecting sites for the storage of biodegradable solid wastes. Results show suitable areas where landfill sites can be safely and aesthetically located within the study area, putting  urban growth rate into consideration.