Application of Geographic Information System in Assessing Land use Changes In Kubwa, FCT Abuja

Abstract

This study looked at the application of geographic information system in assessing land use changes in Kubwa, FCT from 1987-1997. Structured questionnaire was distributed to 300 willing respondents using the systematic sampling technique. Using geographic information system, the changes were also mapped, simple descriptive statistics, Chisquare and T-test were also employed to validate the findings and the result showed that rural/agrarians land use changed dramatically from rural residential area which occupied <l0Ha of the total area coverage (i.e 5.4%) and agric/vacant land use of l5OHa (85%) of land coverage in 1987 to < 45 Ha of land area (56.7%) built mostly for tenants probably for urban dwellers/workers in 1997. The study conclude that the major land use changes found in this study are the commercialization and capitalization of the land within Kubwa which is also a major index that affects the growth and expansion consequently the land use changes in Kubwa area.