GIS Application to Water Resources Monitoring and Management in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The need for proper decision making on problems of water resources necessitated this study. The aim is to create a system that allows comprehensive database to respond flexibly and effectively to water provision. The database management developed was tagged Water Resources Information System (WRIS) basically to answer questions about water resources problems. To achieve this, the study developed a framework for capturing spatial data relating to water within Kwara State. The bulk of the data used for this work were secondary and were sourced for from satellite imagery SPOT5 XS, 2005 Dec. and existing data from Federal Ministry of Water Resource. To create the WRIS, all the related spatial features were vectorised using ArcGIS software. Information about all these features were stored in the attribute table as the databank. All the databanks were linked together to form database that can handle GIS operation. Moreover, series of operations were performed to carry out GIS findings on area of settlements having water accessibility and those areas that are not. Many other tests were carried out on the database built, by subjecting the system to different searches and queries and the results are displayed for proper decision making on water
issues. The study recommends the factors that can speed up the implementation of this type of system within the state and other area of the country.