Analysis of Land Use/Cover Dynamics in a Rapidly Urbanizing City: The Case of Gombe Metropolitan Area, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the dynamics of land use/cover in a rapidly urbanizing city of Gombe in Northeast Nigeria. The objective was to apply geospatial techniques in mapping and characterization of the pattern of land use changes in the metropolis that occurred between 1984 and 2015, and assess its’ implications on the socio-economic development of the city. The Landsat satellite images of the area were acquired and classified using maximum likelihood algorithm in identifying the historical trend in the land use changes. The application of Multi-Layer Perception (MLP) neutral network in the prediction of land use changes in the area reveals that Gombe metropolis has witnessed a phenomenal growth in size (133%) between 1991 and 2003. This growth was largely brought by changes in political status of the city that reflected in the socio-economic functions it performs. A 10-year trend in the growth forecast (2015-2055) reveals lack of abatement in the rapidity of this growth pattern. The consequences of this growth include the aggravation of the existing slumps, problems of infrastructure and housing among others. It is recommended that zonal-based planning approach be adopted within the framework of a master plan to tackle the existing and future development needs of the city. The implications of the findings are further discussed.