Geographic Information System (GIS) for Physical Development Planning and the Trends of Application in Enugu State, Nigeria


Authors : Hyacinth O. Eze; Andrew O. Okosun; William O. Mba

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/572xjwtw

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/h36339fw

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb1281

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : This study explored the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in physical development planning across Departments in the Ministry of Lands and selected agencies in Enugu State. These include the Lands (Estate), Survey, Town Planning, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), and Enugu Geographic Information System (ENGIS). The aim of this study examines the knowledge and application of GIS by the physical development planning professionals within the Ministry of Lands and GIS agencies in Enugu State The objectives through which the aim is actualized are to: examine the current state of GIS adoption and utilization in physical development planning within the Ministry of Land, Survey and Urban Development, Enugu Capital Territory Development, and Enugu State Geographic Information System; identify the benefits and challenges of GIS implementation in physical development planning across the selected agencies in Enugu State; assess the impact of GIS on decision-making, monitoring, and development control processes in the agencies; explore trends, potential applications and future directions for expanding GIS use in physical development planning in Enugu State; develop strategic recommendations for improving the adoption, capacity building, and institutional integration of GIS in physical development planning among the agencies .Primary and secondary data sources were utilized in the study. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested using statistical quantitative techniques known as Chi-square Test of Independence and Fisher’s Exact Test. The findings revealed that GIS adoption is uneven, with ENGIS and the Survey Department showing strong integration, while Lands (Estate) and Town Planning face significant challenges such as inadequate equipment, limited training, high software costs, poor internet and electricity, and insufficient funding. Despite this constraints, the usefulness of GIS and establishment of ENGIS is acknowledged though with some complications. The study concludes with recommendations for repositioning ENGIS to promote better services, sustainable and effective physical development planning.

Keywords : GIS, EMIS, ENGIS, Physical Development, and Planning

References :

  1. Enugu State of Nigeria, (E.S. N., 2024) Enugu State Geographic Information System Service Law No. 2, February 6, 2024.
  2. ESRI (2020). What is GIS?  Environmental Systems Research Institute. https://www.esri.com/en-us/what-is-gis/overview
  3. Longley, P. A., Goodchild, M. F., Maguire, D. J., & Rhind, D. W. (2015). Geographic Information Science and Systems (4th ed.). Wiley.
  4. Longley, P. A., Goodchild, M. F., Maguire, D. J., & Rhind, D. W. (2019). Geographic Information Science and Systems (5th Ed.) Wiley.
  5. UN-Habitat/UNEP (2000) SCP Building a Environmental Management Information System
  6. (EMIS): Handbook with Toolkit; Nairobi, Kenya.
  7. UN-Habitat (2001) Tools to Support Participatory Urban Decision Making: Urban Governance
  8. Toolkit Series, Nairobi Kenya.
  9. World Bank (2024). Urban development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment
  10. Yusuf, R and Abdulquadri, K. (2024) GIS and Urban Data Analytics: “A fundamental Approach
  11. to Urban Planning” in Lawal, L. (Eds.) Sustainable Urban Future in Nigeria: Innovative Planning Strategies, NITP: Abuja, Nigeria.

This study explored the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in physical development planning across Departments in the Ministry of Lands and selected agencies in Enugu State. These include the Lands (Estate), Survey, Town Planning, Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA), and Enugu Geographic Information System (ENGIS). The aim of this study examines the knowledge and application of GIS by the physical development planning professionals within the Ministry of Lands and GIS agencies in Enugu State The objectives through which the aim is actualized are to: examine the current state of GIS adoption and utilization in physical development planning within the Ministry of Land, Survey and Urban Development, Enugu Capital Territory Development, and Enugu State Geographic Information System; identify the benefits and challenges of GIS implementation in physical development planning across the selected agencies in Enugu State; assess the impact of GIS on decision-making, monitoring, and development control processes in the agencies; explore trends, potential applications and future directions for expanding GIS use in physical development planning in Enugu State; develop strategic recommendations for improving the adoption, capacity building, and institutional integration of GIS in physical development planning among the agencies .Primary and secondary data sources were utilized in the study. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested using statistical quantitative techniques known as Chi-square Test of Independence and Fisher’s Exact Test. The findings revealed that GIS adoption is uneven, with ENGIS and the Survey Department showing strong integration, while Lands (Estate) and Town Planning face significant challenges such as inadequate equipment, limited training, high software costs, poor internet and electricity, and insufficient funding. Despite this constraints, the usefulness of GIS and establishment of ENGIS is acknowledged though with some complications. The study concludes with recommendations for repositioning ENGIS to promote better services, sustainable and effective physical development planning.

Keywords : GIS, EMIS, ENGIS, Physical Development, and Planning

Paper Submission Last Date
31 - March - 2026

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