SPACE TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

A study of desert encroachment in Sokoto state was carried out, using space technology and Geographic information system (GIS). Interpretation of aerial photographs was used to support the interpretation of landsat (MSS) for the purposes of getting soil and landuse /cover maps. Supervised classification was carried out using MSS data set of 1976 and 1986. Climatic and population analyses were done to aid in the study of landuse/cover changes in order to assess land degradation as a result of desert encroachment. Application of space technology integrated into GIS provided a very good combination in terms of efficiency in time, convinience and reliability in mapping desert-disaster encroachment, for aiding disaster management.The application of space technology (remote sensing, e.g. Landsat MSS in combination of aerial photography and geographic information system (ILWIS-GIS) in this study has provided a very good combination in terms of efficiency in time, convenience and reliability in mapping desert-disaster encroachment, for aiding the disaster management. Most of the discussion was based on comparison between aerial photographs of 1972, Landsat MSS 1976 and 1986, and they gave good monitoring results. The landsat MSS imageries used for the study (because of limited fund), does not present the best resolution under this circumstance. However, it has demonstrated the enormous potential the integration of GIS and remote sensing holds as tool for frequent ecological monitoring in Nigeria.It has been observed that the semi-arid climate and soils of the study area are dynamic and highly variable, consequently, changes in soil, land use and vegetation cover can be dominant, especially in periods of deficit rainfall. It is suggested therefore, that, the government should accord  land degradation problem, which leads to desert encroachment, the priority it deserves by increasing the funding of this sector. This will enable constant monitoring and protection activities for soil quality and for rehabilitating the nomadic Fulanis in northern Nigeria in order to prevent vegetal cover destruction by their cattle, making it possible to manage, the desert-disaster problem properly. The orientation of the landscape patterns (mostly parallel to the dominant wind direction) and the sandy textures of soil mantle suggest an Aeolian origin of the cover sand. Since there is a danger of desert encroachment, awareness and involvement of the people of the area in planning and execution of afforestation projects, should therefore, be emphasized. Journal of Environmental Management and Safety, Vol. 3 No. 5 (2012)