Developing natural resources database with Nigeriasat-1 satellite data and geographical information systems

The increasing threats to the natural resources of Ondo-State in the south-western Nigeria by human activities and likely impacts of climate change calls for an improved information system that will give a better insight into the complex interaction between natural resources and environmental dynamics for sustainable use. Poor analytical assessment and inadequate monitoring capability of natural resources have been a big challenge resulting in degradation and constitute a major risk to environmental security in the study area. There is therefore an urgent need to develop new approaches for effective management of the finite resources in order to maintain a balance between sustainability and rapid economic development. There have not been any foremost efforts to embrace the geospatial-based data derived from remote sensing satellite and geographical information systems (GIS) and global positioning system (GPS) into the policy formulation of the study area. This study aims at providing a case study report on the management and conservation of natural resources in the study area by demonstrating the potentials of remote sensing data derived from Nigeriasat-1 satellite, GPS integrated into GIS as the beginning of a technological quest towards advancement in the monitoring of natural resources for long-term use. The result shows that the geospatial data infrastructure-based management system can provide a robust decision support tool in a holistic, cost-effective and time-saving manner that will enhance the administration of natural resources database for economic development. (C) 2012 National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.