Impact of Mining Activities on Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Using Geospatial Techniques in the Obuasi Municipality

Authors

Keywords:

Land use land cover, Random Forest classifier, Geospatial techniques, Mining

Abstract

Introduction: Sustainable development, which balances economic, social, and environmental factors to meet the needs of the present and future generations, is a collective responsibility. Rapid population growth and intensification of socio-economic activities are causing significant changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC), directly impacting ecosystem services, biodiversity, and climate. The Obuasi community is already facing environmental degradation and health problems due to gold mining.

Methodology: The study assessed the spatial extent and intensity of mining activities in the Obuasi Municipality on the LULC and predicted future LULC changes due to mining activities using geospatial techniques. The LULC changes were analysed using Landsat satellite imagery from 1990 to 2024 using a Random Forest (RF) classifier.

Results and Discussion: Mining Areas had a positive change of 27.655 km2 (18.846%) while tailing dams and flooded pits increased by 46.655 km2 (31.724%). Dense vegetation, less dense foliage, and built-up and bare land decreased by -34.692%, -8.024%, and -7.854%, respectively. These significant environmental changes show the need for effective land management strategies and geospatial techniques to monitor and mitigate adverse effects, promoting sustainable development policies and ecological resilience.

Significance: The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the environmental impacts of mining, emphasising the need to make informed research and policy decisions in the field of environmental science.

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Author Biographies

  • Samira Naa Yemoley Nsiah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    First Author

    Samira Naa Yemoley Nsiah is a geomatics professional with over ten years in engineering and surveying. She began her career as a surveyor at Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) Ghana from 2013 to 2022, working on civil and infrastructure projects. In 2022, she joined Underground Mining Alliance (UMA) in Obuasi, focusing on underground mine surveying and geospatial data management. Samira holds a Bachelor of Science in Geomatic Engineering from KNUST (2012) and a Master of Philosophy in Geographic Information Systems from KNUST (2024), where she researched spatial analysis in mining and land use planning. Her skills include mining surveying, GIS analysis, deformation monitoring, 3D modeling, and digital terrain analysis.

  • Jonathan Arthur Quaye-Ballard, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    Professor at the Department of Geomatic Engineering, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana. Holds BSc. Geodetic Engineering from KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, MSc. Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation from ITC, Enschede, Netherlands and PhD in Geodesy and Surveying Engineering from Hohai University, Nanjing, China. Professional Member of Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS), Fellow of Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and License Surveyors of Ghana (LiSAG). Teaches Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Principles of Land Surveying, Cartographic Visualisation, Remote Sensing (RS), Research Methods and System Analysis. Research interests include Usability Testing, Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and the application of Geo-Information, surveying and mapping in managing spatial information, solving complex global problems and environmental monitoring.

  • Jephthah Marfo Nimoh, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    Jephthah Marfo Nimoh is a doctoral researcher at Mississippi State University, focusing on how geospatial technologies relate to environmental systems. He has a Bachelor of Science in Geomatic Engineering and a Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems from KNUST in Ghana. He is a professional member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE). His research interests include the application of geospatial tools in Environmental monitoring, Water resource management, Precision agriculture, Spatial data infrastructure and decision support systems.

  • Titus Tienaah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    Dr. Titus Tienaah is a lecturer in Geomatic Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. His research focus areas are Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial data structures, spatial big data analytics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Tienaah has Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering degrees from the University of New Brunswick (Ph.D., MScE) and a Geodetic Engineering degree from KNUST (BSc.)

  • Kwame Obeng, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    Dr. Kwame Obeng is a Lecturer at the Department of Geomatic Engineering, KNUST. Dr. Obeng’s research interests are in the application of Geographic Information System and remote sensing in areas as environment, agriculture, climate change, health and land use land cover change. Dr. Obeng is a professional member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Ghana Geospatial Society and Licensed Surveyors Association of Ghana.

  • Tina Dzigbordi Wemegah, Accra Technical University

    Surv. Ing. Dr. Tina Dzigbordi Wemegah is a senior lecturer and currently serves as Vice Dean and Acting Dean for the Faulty of Engineering at Accra Technical University. She holds a PhD in Traffic and Transportation Engineering from Wuhan University of Technology, China. Her doctoral research focused on using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and big data analytics to infer road traffic patterns and vehicular movements. She earned an MSc in Geo-Information Science with a specialization in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing from the International Institute for Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Netherlands, and a BSc in Geomatic Engineering from KNUST. Her research interests center on applying geo-information technologies in traffic analysis. Her expertise spans transportation engineering, engineering and land surveying, GIS and remote sensing, and photogrammetry.

     

  • Precious Adwoa Okyere, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

    Precious Adwoa Okyere is a PhD student and assistant lecturer in the Department of Geography and Rural Development at KNUST, Kumasi. She specializes in GIS, Remote Sensing, Transportation Geography, and Health Geography. Her research interests include land use/land cover change, mining impacts, and spatial modeling. She holds an MPhil in Geographic Information Systems and a BA in Geography and Rural Development from KNUST. Precious has worked as a research assistant, data analyst, and Disaster and Monitoring Control Officer at GPHA. Her academic background blends spatial analysis with real-world applications in urban and health systems. Her work focuses on using geospatial tools to inform planning and policy decisions. She has contributed to interdisciplinary research on urban equity and spatial access.

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Published

2025-08-26

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Engineering & Physical Sciences

License

JUST Vol. 43 Number 1 (2025) Copyright and Licensing statement

How to Cite

Impact of Mining Activities on Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Using Geospatial Techniques in the Obuasi Municipality. (2025). Journal of Science and Technology, 43(3), 1-22. https://journal.knust.edu.gh/index.php/just/article/view/1862

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