Geospatial Assessment of the Impacts of Sand Mining Activities in Benin City, Edo State Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the geospatial impacts of sand mining activities in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. There are thirty five (35) burrow pits in Benin and eleven (11) were used for the study. Similarly, three (3) distinct datasets and sources were used to determine the spatial extent of environmental degradation as a result of sand mining activities in Benin City. The first data set was the 19th January, 2019 satellite imagery of each of the mining sites. This high resolution remotely sensed data was used in the determination of areal extent of the sand mining sites. The second set of data was the Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) 30meters resolution digital elevation model (DEM). The ASTER-DEM was used as an input dataset in the determination of the volume of sand that have been mined in each site and compilation of three – dimensional model (3D Model) of each the sand mining site. The third set of data was the geographic coordinates of the mining sites. They were sourced from field survey with the use of global positioning system (GPS).The study concluded that sand mining and development cannot be entirely separated but mining should be done in a sustainable manner with less of environmental degradation. It is recommended that miners should be regularly sensitized by the government on environmental degradation and about the fragile nature of the environment. The government regulatory body should ensure that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried before mining pits are approved for mining activities. Also illegal burrow pits should be short down to check environmental degradation.