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Land Use and Land Cover Change Analysis along the Coastal Regions of Cape Coast and Sekondi
Abstract
The study sought to investigate and analyse land use and land cover change for the Cape Coast
and Sekondi coastal regions in Ghana between 2005 and 2013. The methodology adopted for the
study involved data acquisition and preprocessing, extraction and validation of land use/cover
information. It also involved assessment and examination of the patterns of land use/cover changes
in the two study areas. Aerial photographs and topographic maps were obtained from the Survey
Department of Ghana. The delineation of the different categories of land cover and land use in the
study area was done manually through on-screen digitization in ESRI ArcGIS 10.1. The major
land use/cover types identified in the study sites were built up area, vegetation and farms. It was
found that since the two study sites are both fast growing urban communities, most of the land was
used for human habitation, hence, large parts were covered by built-up area. It was recommended
that, relevant agencies such as the metropolitan, municipal and district development planning
committees, including town and country planning department should monitor, regulate and plan
the pattern of development in both communities. This recommendation will help the city authorities
to keep abreast of changes that will occur in the cover and use of land and also factor such changes
in the planning of such communities.
and Sekondi coastal regions in Ghana between 2005 and 2013. The methodology adopted for the
study involved data acquisition and preprocessing, extraction and validation of land use/cover
information. It also involved assessment and examination of the patterns of land use/cover changes
in the two study areas. Aerial photographs and topographic maps were obtained from the Survey
Department of Ghana. The delineation of the different categories of land cover and land use in the
study area was done manually through on-screen digitization in ESRI ArcGIS 10.1. The major
land use/cover types identified in the study sites were built up area, vegetation and farms. It was
found that since the two study sites are both fast growing urban communities, most of the land was
used for human habitation, hence, large parts were covered by built-up area. It was recommended
that, relevant agencies such as the metropolitan, municipal and district development planning
committees, including town and country planning department should monitor, regulate and plan
the pattern of development in both communities. This recommendation will help the city authorities
to keep abreast of changes that will occur in the cover and use of land and also factor such changes
in the planning of such communities.
