Mapping of Existing Solid Waste Dumpsites Using Geographic Information System in Kaduna South Local Government Area

Abstract

Indiscriminate dumping of solid waste on the environment poses a serious environmental problem in many countries of the world including Nigeria. Kaduna South local government area has over the years experienced increased waste generation and illegal disposal sites, due to population surge and poor waste management approaches. This study therefore attempts to map existing solid waste disposal sites in Kaduna South Local Government Area; using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing techniques for improved environmental sustainability. The ArcGIS software version 10.0 was used to geo-reference the digitised map, create different layers showing spatial distributions of features in relation to usable dumpsites for analysis. Global Positioning System was used to determine the location of solid waste dumpsites using coordinates based on Universal Traverse Mercator system for mapping. Findings of the study show among other things that the present dump sites in the study area are located farther away from each other within the study area. Result of study shows that a buffer of one hundred meter (100m) is sufficient to optimise possible sites for aesthetic considerations. Solid waste dumpsites are found to be located less than 100 meters off streams, major highways, city streets or other transportation routes; creating serious mobility problems in the area.