GIS-based site suitability and vulnerability assessment of telecommunication base transceiver station facilities in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed GIS capability in siting of base transceiver stations (BTS) to ensuring optimum spatial coverage of signal while minimizing their health impacts. It therefore evaluated the spatial pattern of BTS, determined areas vulnerable to health hazards related to them and identified most suitable locations for siting the BTS in Ibadan metropolis. Digital elevation model, IKONOS, geographic locations of the BTS and administrative map of Ibadan were used. Images and map were georeferenced using ArcGIS 10.2 version. Features such as drainage, road network, buildings among others were extracted from the IKONOS image. Nearest neighbourhood analysis was performed to investigate the nature of the BTS distribution. Buffering analysis was carried out to identify the numbers of buildings at risk of radiation emission from BTS based on National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) 10 m distance regulation. View shed analysis was performed to determine signal strength across the study area. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and sensitivity analysis were carried out to generate BTS suitability index maps. The finding showed that BTS distribution pattern was dispersed with z-score of 4.39 and there was less than 1% likelihood that this dispersed pattern could be the result of random chance (P value = 0.01). The study revealed that 934 buildings with 13,387 population were found within 10 m from the BTS and thus vulnerable to possible health hazards of harmful radiation. The study proposes creation of 11 new BTS sites that would increase strong signal strength coverage across the study area. It canvassed for further researches on the effects of long-term exposure to radiation among people living around BTS in Nigeria.