Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International

This study uses a high resolution digital orthophoto derived from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aerial photographs to update the landuse map of the Obafemi Awolowo University Campus while focusing on the built up environment. An aerial survey was conducted in the study area using commercially available low-cost Phantom II Vision Quadcopter. Sets of overlapping aerial photographs captured with optical camera on-board the UAV were used to produce 8 cm orthophoto. A digital copy of 1987 landuse paper map of the campus was obtained by heads-up digitizing, the digital map was then overlaid on the orthophoto from which new buildings and features were extracted and populated with relevant attributes. The updated landuse map of the Obafemi Awolowo University campus which was produced shows an addition of 187 building structures, with sizes ranging from small service centres to large administrative blocks. Most of the new buildings were built around the existing ones but there is gradual aggregation of structures at the eastern part of the campus. This may lead to increased pressure on some basic facilities such as congestion on roads leading to these areas during peak period.

The study was able to show that the use of micro UAV is a cost effective way to derive high resolution spatial datasets which could be used for management and monitoring landuse changes and effective land planning in a small area such as a university campus.