Mapping Climate Change Vulnerability of Transportation Infrastructure in Nigeria Using Gis and Remote Sensing
Keywords:
Climate change vulnerability, Transportation infrastructure, Remote sensing, Flood risk, Coastal erosionAbstract
Climate change poses unprecedented threats to transportation infrastructure in Nigeria, with rising temperatures, intensified rainfall, flooding, coastal erosion, and changing precipitation patterns threatening roads, bridges, railways, airports, and seaports. This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques to systematically map and assess
the climate change vulnerability of Nigeria's transportation network. Using multi-temporal satellite imagery, climate projection data, digital elevation models, and infrastructure databases, we analyze exposure to multiple climate hazards including flood risk from intensified precipitation and sea-level rise, erosion susceptibility from extreme rainfall events, heat stress impacts on
pavement and railway infrastructure, and coastal inundation threatening maritime and aviation facilities. Our vulnerability assessment integrates hazard exposure, infrastructure sensitivity based on design standards and age, and adaptive capacity considering maintenance regimes and institutional resources. Results reveal that approximately 35% of Nigeria's federal road
network faces high or very high vulnerability to climate-related hazards, with critical corridors including Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (flooding), East-West Road (coastal erosion and flooding), and northern routes (heat stress and drought impacts). Over 60% of railway infrastructure exhibits moderate to high vulnerability, while 12 of 22 major airports and 4 of 6 seaports face significant
flood or inundation risks. This research provides critical spatial intelligence for climate adaptation planning and infrastructure investment prioritization, contributing to Nigeria's climate resilience objectives and sustainable development goals and therefore concludes that the economic implications are substantial, hence strategies for maintaining transportation infrastructures should be developed.
