HOUSING CONDITIONS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN KARMO SQUATTER SETTLEMENT, ABUJA-NIGERIA.

Abstract

The advent of Remote sensing technology and Geographic Information systems consequently improved settlement studies. The use of remote sensing data in settlement studies was limited to building count, population estimation and urban area delimitation among others in the recent past. The use of remote sensing data for urban slum especially in the developing countries has been considered as the heretical alternative to conventional method. This thesis utilized photographs, topograghmap and satellite images for urban slum assessment and, consequently, classification of slum decay areas over a period of twenty years. (1976 - 2004). In the final analysis the parameters used for urban slum classification from remote sensing data are vegetation characteristic, accessibility characteristics, housing characteristics and roof of uuiluill9 d laraclel islics. The pattern of settlement changes in the study area was observed from 1975 through 2003. It was observed that the core areas had been in a condition of virtual slum before the year 1976 while old Karmo steadily deteriorated especially since the period of colonial days. The spread of slum is more The results of slum classification through remote sensing data were juxtaposed with the classification obtained through conventional method of questionnaire administration. It was observed'that two methods agree largely with the areas classified as squatter settlement noticeable in the central and eastern part of the study area.