Monitoring urban land use in developing countries—an aerial photographic approach

In most developing countries, the ground survey method of data collection is usually the traditional method of monitoring urban land use. Since this procedure is costly in terms of time and energy, which developing countries can hardly afford, it is suggested that aerial photography be employed in monitoring urban land use. The usefulness of sequential aerial photography in estimating the relative growth of thirteen land-use categories in Ilorin (Nigeria) has been evaluated. It was discovered that the spatial distribution pattern of the land-use types in 1950, 1963, and 1973 could be estimated and changes detected. The methodology employed emphasises simplicity and speed of data collection, and so could be incorporated into an overall urban information system on which land-use planning could be based.