Terrain Analysis of Biu Plateau, for Road Transport Development, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

Among all the means of transportation, road has been described as the most important, probably because of its flexibility and its low cost in terms of construction, maintenance and usage. However, in Nigeria, road is considered to be the most dangerous means of transportation because of their bad nature such as sharp bends, narrow bridges, steep slopes and other related problems which are associated with the terrain where these roads are constructed. Road transportation therefore needs proper planning and development through the use of geo-information technologies that would ease accessibility reduces human energy and yet brings reliable and accurate information on the terrain. In this paper, Ilwis 3.5 was used to create Digital Elevation Modelling (DEM), Shadowing, 3-Dimentional View, Slope maps and river direction maps of Biu plateau to analyze the use of GIS on road planning and development on the plateau. It was revealed that the technique has great capabilities of terrain analysis as features which are deemed humanly impossible to assess are viewed as if one is at the scene which may enhance quick analysis on road transportation. It was therefore, recommended that all the stake holders in road transportation should employ the use of this geo-information techniques in terrain analysis to ease transport planning and development in the area.

Terrain analysis for environmental sustainability in Taraba Central Senatorial Districts, North-East, Nigeria

“…2,3 Guset 4 postulated that terrain analysis is use for scientific pursuit, that is, to properly understand the terrain characteristics. Among the numerous existing studies on terrain analysis are; Ikusemoran et al, 5 in the analysis of the terrain of Biu Plateau for transport development. The study used terrain analysis to select route locations and sites for highway survey and design and the assessment of alternative transportation corridors and potential trouble spots for road construction.…”