Project Report.pdf - Planet Action

Title: Assessment of Eco-environmental Vulnerability in Efon alaye
Eco-environmental risk assessment in Efon alaye.
Country: Nigeria
Summary/ Introduction
This project is on assessing the vulnerability extent of the environment of Efon Alaye (Location
area). The region is described to be surrounded by uphills, with its major settlements on the
valley. People in the region still having their houses built on the hill, likewise some of their
farming activities are done on the slope of the hills. The hills are steep as they slope down the
valley, which eventually makes the inhabitants of this region be at risk to erosion, run-off during
heavy down pour of rain. Integration of remote sensing technology and geographical information
system are veritable tools to map out high risk areas to monitor these eventualities such are
erosion, run-off. Therefore integration of both techniques and performing other spatial analysis,
we will produce the desired result intended, which will help for sustainable land management in
the region.
Overall Project Goals
Our specific goal on this project is to produce a risk assessment map, identifying high risk areas
as likewise low risk which will be subdivided into 3 levels:
• High risk area
• Medium risk area
• Low risk area
Our planned calendar was hijacked by several activities, which gradually is been taken care of,
nevertheless we still working with the project calendar. Little adjustments that has been made on
the project calendar which we feel is good for the project to be completed before the initial time
the project calendar specified (November, 2011), but we are working hard to ensure we send in
our final report before May, 2011.
Satellite Image Analysis and Findings
In producing a risk assessment map, various image analyses have to be carried to generate the
necessary indicators. The Indicators that will be generated from the image analysis will try
showing the conditions of the region with respect to vegetation loss, landing use land cover
change, topography/slope. The indicators to be considered are the digital elevation model of the
region, Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and slope map. Figure 1, shows the two
period images used for the output analysis presented in Figure 2.
Performing Image difference operation using ENVI EX for both periods 1986 and 2002 satellite
image of landsat using the NDVI as the feature index method, Figure 2, shows areas of
vegetation decrease identified by the spectral red color in the region of study. It explains there is
more vegetation decrease within settlement region circled in yellow. Table 1, list the class names

for the operation and shows the results obtained. Big decrease is about 87% of loss of vegetation
over the region of stud. Figure 3, shows the flow accumulation map and drainage network
overlay on the 3D view of the region of study. The flow accumulation map defines the
hydrological flow of the region of study, spectra color with high values are defined to be flow
outlets, these outlets are areas in the region of study which have been eroded by runoff, soil
erosion. The inhabitants carry most of their farming activities on the steep slope, weakening the
top soil allowing for easy runoff during heavy down pour of rain.
A
B
UpHill
Settlement
Down the
valley
UpHill
Figure1: (a) Region Image in 1986 Landsat, (b) Region Image in 2002 Landsat
A
B

Figure 2: (a) Vegetation decrease, (b). Overlay of vegetation decrease areas over Region
Satellite Image.
A
B
Figure 3: (a) Flow accumulation Map, (b) Drainage network overlay on 3D view of region
of interest.
Table: 1
CLASS_NAME AREA (Metre) PERCENT
Unclassified 0.00 0.000000
Other 13741.00 12.795657
Big Decrease 93647.00 87.204343
Activities Undertaken
To mention, we’ve had interactions with the personal assistant to the traditional ruler and some
of the inhabitants of the community. Find photos below.
Challenges
Yes the project had challenges; such has Finance, software, human resource, mobility. Starting
with the software, the first software pack sent to us (ENVI) was an upgrade (service pack) not
the real installation software, which was later mention to ITT and the installation pack was sent
and we really appreciated their effort. Also we had challenges with the software licenses which
after some months were later resolved. We actually request for two softwares but we had just one
ENVI delivered first and after some months precisely this October we just heard from ESRI. We
have sent our address and we hope to hear from them soon.
Secondly on Human resource, we had issues with this; field workers availability. So two of us
from the team had to do some field work on the region, nevertheless there are still much we can
accomplish on the field, that leads to the third aspect finance and mobility; as a team raising
finance based on each step of the project hasn’t been easy, part of it which would have help to

support giving stipends to field workers as you supervise, and for mobility to different areas of
the region. Nevertheless we have been trying on this aspect.
What next?
We intend to complete all image analysis as soon as possible not later than January 2011, and
update our information on the website. Also to still pay a visit to the region for sensitization on
the results we shall obtain at the end of the study. So the other indicators are to be analyzed and
the risk map to be produced. Also the second step of the analysis of SPOT images donated for
the region. Results will be sent as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The project is welcomed in the region from our meeting with the personal assistant to the
traditional ruler. Nevertheless certain measures have been taken already by the Government to
help the community in the region against soil erosion. Gutters are being built to help drainage
round the community down the valley. Remote sensing and GIS are potent techniques to map out
the region based on the subject tile of this project. We therefore hope to conclude this project,
sending in all reports as applicable on or before May 2011.
We wish to adjust the title of this project as stated above, but all other write-up and objectives of
the project still apply only for areas adjustments is deem necessary. The title we are proposing to
called this project is the second title in background color green
Thanks
Adia Samson O.
Principal investigator
adiaoros@yahoo.com

Appendix
Plate1: Personal Assistant to traditional ruler (left), Principal investigator and P.A (right)
Plate 2: Team member and P.A (left) Principal Investigator and a resident (right)
Plate 3: Residents of the community (left), Principal investigator (right)
Plate 4: Team member (left), Principal Investigator (right)

Plate 5: Built gutter