Landscape metrics analysis of land use patterns and changes in suburban local government areas of Ibadan, Nigeria

This study examined the spatiotemporal pattern of urban growth and magnitude of changes in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the suburban area of Ibadan using remote sensing cum spatial metrics. Data for the study were obtained from administrative maps of the study area, population data and satellite imageries. All of these were complemented with ground validations using Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Periods of change analysis were divided into two epochs; 1986 to 2002 and 2002 to 2017. The imageries were classified into four landuse/cover classes based on Anderson’s modified version of supervised classification scheme. Accuracy assessment of the imageries was carried out using 100 randomly sampled ground truth points. Ten spatial metrics were selected for analysis using Fragstats program. Results show a significant loss in vegetation due to conversion (Land Consumption Rate, LCR = 0.025, 0.019 and 0.027; Land Absorption Coefficient, LAC = 0.012 and 0.048). Moreover, there was a persistent increase in Number of Patches (NP) indicating a scattered and fragmented but continuous development. However, dwindling values of Patch Density (PD = 90.94, 27.07 and 30.30) indicate expansion through conversion of other landuses at varying rates. Results also indicate an incidence of fragmented low density development in the fringe areas (Area Weighted Mean Patch Fractal Dimension, AWMPFD = 1.37 and 1.39). The study highlights the chaotic land development and unrestrained urban expansion in the study area.