Building Spatial Data Infrastructures for Spatial Planning in Africa: Lagos e...Samuel Dekolo
Lagos is the fastest growing Megacity in Sub-Saharan Africa, with its population estimated to double in the first quarter of this century; it is expected to be the third largest urban agglomerations in the world. This growth is not without challenges, as the city is grappling with myriads of urban management problems. City planners lack the most important ingredient of land use management, which is Information. In spite of huge investment on spatial data infrastructures at the national and state levels of government, most land use planners at both state and local government level agencies are ignorant of existing geospatial technology portals and unlock the full potentials of information and communication technologies. A statewide survey of the spatial data infrastructures of the city’s urban and land use management ministry and agencies proves its pathetic state, thereby creating information gap void between urban development and intelligent management. The result is has led to a sporadic growth of slums and unplanned settlements which now accounts for over 60% of the city. To avoid an impasse, it is necessary to review the level of geospatial technologies used at the local level and recommend formidable means of integration in the decision making process. This paper examines the level of geospatial technologies and Spatial Data Infrastructure use in spatial planning agencies and barriers to implementation in the 20 local governments of Lagos State and suggests the way forward.
Land use planning: Panacea a Sustainable Lagos MegacitySamuel Dekolo
There is a trajectory between land use planning and sustainable development. Both concepts tend to deliberately use available societal resources in a rational way in order to meet future desired needs and aspirations. However, the lack of land use planning of megacities in developing countries has brought about various environmental and economic consequences which cannot be overlooked. The sprawling nature of the Lagos megacity is very alarming and to achieve sustainability, there is need to strike a balance between the spatial needs for human activities and available land through sustainable land use planning which is constant. This paper examines the theoretical underpinnings of land use planning, which seems to be dislocated from existing planning practice and emphasize the need for a holistic approach which transcends the traditional land use planning in order to achieve sustainable development.
Building Spatial Data Infrastructures for Spatial Planning in Africa: Lagos e...Samuel Dekolo
Lagos is the fastest growing Megacity in Sub-Saharan Africa, with its population estimated to double in the first quarter of this century; it is expected to be the third largest urban agglomerations in the world. This growth is not without challenges, as the city is grappling with myriads of urban management problems. City planners lack the most important ingredient of land use management, which is Information. In spite of huge investment on spatial data infrastructures at the national and state levels of government, most land use planners at both state and local government level agencies are ignorant of existing geospatial technology portals and unlock the full potentials of information and communication technologies. A statewide survey of the spatial data infrastructures of the city’s urban and land use management ministry and agencies proves its pathetic state, thereby creating information gap void between urban development and intelligent management. The result is has led to a sporadic growth of slums and unplanned settlements which now accounts for over 60% of the city. To avoid an impasse, it is necessary to review the level of geospatial technologies used at the local level and recommend formidable means of integration in the decision making process. This paper examines the level of geospatial technologies and Spatial Data Infrastructure use in spatial planning agencies and barriers to implementation in the 20 local governments of Lagos State and suggests the way forward.
Land use planning: Panacea a Sustainable Lagos MegacitySamuel Dekolo
There is a trajectory between land use planning and sustainable development. Both concepts tend to deliberately use available societal resources in a rational way in order to meet future desired needs and aspirations. However, the lack of land use planning of megacities in developing countries has brought about various environmental and economic consequences which cannot be overlooked. The sprawling nature of the Lagos megacity is very alarming and to achieve sustainability, there is need to strike a balance between the spatial needs for human activities and available land through sustainable land use planning which is constant. This paper examines the theoretical underpinnings of land use planning, which seems to be dislocated from existing planning practice and emphasize the need for a holistic approach which transcends the traditional land use planning in order to achieve sustainable development.