Category Archives: International Journal of Environmental Studies and Safety Research, volume 6, number 1, 2021

THE ARCHITECTURAL PLAUSIBILITY OF AN URBAN PARKING FACILITY PROJECT: A JOS CITY CENTRE SCENARIO

Oko, Joseph Oko; Demenongu, I. James; Detur Gwatau & Shem R. Lekjep

Department of Architecture

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

University of Jos, Jos

agaba30@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: This paper is aimed at addressing the car park shortage problem of the Central Business District, CBD, of Jos, the Plateau State capital, Nigeria. The car park dilemma has become a blot in the landscape of the city centre and a negative smear on the tourism destination potential of Jos. A study of the city centre’s car park problem revealed a continuing, incremental trend whose actual magnitude is not easily quantifiable. The purpose of this paper is to evince the major causes of this trend and put forward a plausible, sustainable solution which would address the parking problem such that it is contained as the need arises irrespective of the developmental stride of the city centre. This was achieved by undertaking a field investigation using field observation, physical field survey and enumeration. Through this process, a firsthand vista of the problems and challenges was obtained. Consequently, an Outline Architectural Design proposal of a prototype car park facility that has the potential of add – on – module to address the exigencies of sustainability and adaptability was developed. The proposal also sought to address the unpredictable but surely increasing future car park space needs. Through this means emerged a blueprint for addressing the present car park problems and also the future requirements within the framework of socio – economic, environmental and sustainability needs.

 Keywords: Architectural Design, Car Park, Central Business District (CBD), Planning,   Sustainability.

AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY ON THE SUITABILITY OF JUTE LEAF (Corchorus spp.) POWDER AS AN ADMIXTURE IN CONCRETE PRODUCTION 1

Zakka, P.W., ²Bang, D.P., ¹Anowai, S.I., ¹Williams, F.N., ¹Yahaya, A.M., ³Bako, W., ⁴Yohanna, H.S & ¹Igomu, I.

¹Department of Building, University of Jos, Nigeria.

²Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Jos, Nigeria.

³ECWA College of Health Technology Kagoro

⁴Department of Building Technology, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria

ABSTRACT: The properties and performance of concrete are largely determined by the properties of the cement paste. Admixtures in concrete confer some beneficial effects such as acceleration, retardation, air entrainment, water reduction, plasticity etc., and these effects are due to their action on cement. Classical chemical additives to concrete are considered as one of important factors for improving the properties of concrete in structural designs. Today the construction industry is in need of finding effective materials for increasing the strength of concrete structures with low cost, and with less environmental damage. This research was aimed at addressing such issues by investigating the suitability of Jute leaf powder as an admixture in concrete production. At 7 days hydration period in water, the control had a compressive strength of 18.50N/mm2, it was observed that the introduction of jute leaf powder increases the compressive Strength of the concrete expect in the case of 0.2% where there is a decrease in strength compared to the control cubes throughout. At 28 days hydration period in water, the control had a compressive strength of 28.33N/mm², it was observed that at 0.2% admixture dosage, the concrete had the lowest compressive strength of 26.00N/mm². Other percentages are high but that of 0.4% concrete cubes is highest. This shows that the optimum value is 29.01 N/mm² at 0.4% of admixture. The Flexural Strength results revealed that the concrete with all different admixture dosage levels increases in strength as the admixture percent increases. At 28days, the concrete beams with 0% admixture developed strength of 3.92N/mm² while the 0.05%, 0.2% and 0.4% had a flexural strength of 3.98N/mm², 5N/mm², and 5N/mm² respectively. Therefore an increase in jute leaf powder increases the flexural strength of the concrete beams. The work shows that compressive strengths of 94.71%, 91.76% and 102.4% of the control (0%) can be achieved at the 28-days. The admixture ratio of (Jute/cement) was ranging between 0-0.4% by weight with mix proportion of (1:2:4) (cement:sand:gravel) by volume and same water to cement ratio (W/C) of 0.57. The experimental tests show that when modified concrete is compared with the normal concrete (without admixture), there is an increase in concrete compressive strength and flexural strength with increase in the ratio of jute leaf powder to certain percentage. Thus, the Jute leaf powder has shown promise as a low-cost concrete admixture in terms of increasing the setting time of concrete.

Keywords: Exploitative, Study, Suitability, Jute Leaf, Powder, Admixture, Concrete, Production

DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF RADON IN SOME SELECTED ROOMS OF BOYS HOSTEL BLOCK A OF ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA UNIVERSITY, BAUCHI STATE

¹E. W. Likta & Peter J. Manga

Department of Physics

University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Maiduguri, Nigeria

¹E-Mail: emmalikta2014@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The goal of this paper is to obtain the level of Radon in the boys hostel block A at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU). The level of Radon has been obtained. Room 4 has been considered with the highest level of Radon for both day and night. It is noted that Radon is higher at night compared with day time.

Keyword: Radon, Boys Hostel, Room 4 and Block A

TREND ANALYSIS OF TEMPERATURE AND WIND SPEED CHARACTERISTICS OVER FIDII AREA OF MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Monday Akpegi Onah¹, Sunday Akuratse Akuratse¹ Patricia Ali¹,Johnson Orfega Mage & Paul Tarzoho²

¹Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi

²Department of General Studies, Taraba State College of Health Technology, Takum

Email: aonah@bsum.edu.ng

 

ABSTRACT

The study analysed trend in temperature and wind speed characteristics over Fidii area of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. Temperature and wind speed data for Makurdi synoptic weather station for a period 30 years (1986 and 2015) were acquired from Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Oshodi, Lagos. Least Square Regression Model (LSRM) was used to analyse trend, while Student’s ‘t’ Test statistic was to determine the significance of the trends at 0.05 degree of confidence. Mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were also employed in data analysis. The result shows that the variation in mean minimumm, maximum and mean temperatures over Fiidi area of Makurdi indicates negative trends which were not significant at 0.05 confidence level. The result further shows that temperatures in Makurdi have periodicity of ten (10) years which means that Makurdi usually go through cooling and warming phases in cyclic pattern of ten years with maximum temperatures currently going through upward oscillation (warming phase) after a downward oscillation of just six years instead of the usual 10-year periodicity. The result generally showed that wind speed over Fiidi, Makurdi varied seasonally during the study period with the months of December – April which constitutes dry season in Makurdi have high wind speed with the highest wind speed of 5.78m/s occurring in the month of April, while the lowest wind speed of 3.52m/s on average occurred in the month of October. Annually, result generally indicates a sharp declining trend in the wind speed in the study area during period with yearly decreasing rate of 0.0485m/s. Wind speed showed greater degree of variability than temperature characteristics. Consequently, the study recommends tree planting so as to ensure moderate temperatures that would enhance physiological comfort of the inhabitants.

Keywords: Temperature, wind speed, Trend and Periodicity

IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GULLY EROSION IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA: CASE STUDY OF NASARAWA STATE

¹Anzaku, I. M., ²Ishaya, K. I. & ²Ogah, A. T.

¹Department of Science, Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria

Email: mamman.iliyasu@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT: This study assessed morphometric of gullies in Nasarawa state, Nigeria with a view to ascertain the level of distinction of the phenomenon in the state. Landscape morphology and the process that bring them into being have always been of interest to scholars. Landform evolution is therefore a product of the balancing of these forces in the presence of climatic and endogenic change geomorphic interaction is provided by the sun, geothermal and gravitational energy.Both primary and secondary data source were employed for this study. The primary data were collected from direct field observation and measurements. Secondary data were gathered through the review of relevant literature. A recommendation survey to ascertain the general characteristics of gullies in the state was carried out with the aid of topography map of the study area.The results generated from the field were subjected to statistical and laboratory analysis. The results of the findings revealed that gullies in Lafia and Wamba LGA of Nasarawa state are more affected 80% Kilema gully site in Lafia LGA recorded the highest intern of gully length 315m followed by Traffic in Wamba LGA 303m, UngwaSharu in Lafia LGA recorded the highest figure in term of gully length 325m followed by Traffic in Wamba LGA 285m respectively. In term of gully in the study area, it recorded number 21.2m, traffic in Wamba LGA 20.3m, Gangare wawa in Wamba LGA and Akurba in Lafia LGA recorded the same figure 17.3m, respectively. Gully site in Mama, in Wamba LGA and Uke in Karu LGA of the study area, recorded the last figure 4m in width magnitude. In term of area, gully site in Marhai in Wamba LGA, Mararaba in Karu LGA and UngwaTiv. In Lafia LGA recorded the highest number 0.21m² and Adogi gully site in Lafia LGA recorded the last of 0.5m². Majority of the gullies in the study area are characterized by U-S shape cross-section 60% and V-shape 30% U and V-shape 10%. The findings also revealed the results of the mean value of volume of soil loss in the study area was 14200.39tonnes/ha in all the gullies in the study area. The mean values of large gullies length were 254.77, depth was 11.86, while that of very small gullies was length 65.16, depth was 4.66 and slope angle was 9.0. Gullies in the area are long- narrow linear to rectangular shaped. 55.6% of gullies are at their continuous stage of development while 44.4% of gullies were at their continuous stage of development.

Keywords: Erosion, Gully Erosion, and Gully Characteristics.

ASSESSMENT OF ABATTOIRS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

¹Helen Nuhu; ²Asma’u Shehu Usman Dantudu &*³Mansur Bello

¹ Kaduna Geographic Information Service, No. 31 Ali Akilu Road, Unguwar Sarki, Kaduna

^2&3 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria

Email: mansbell2017@gmail.com

Corresponding Author: Mansur Bello

 

ABSTRACT: This study assessed the abattoirs in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria. This came about based on the recognition of the disposal of meat waste as source of environmental pollution in the built environment. The study aimed at assessing the facilities available at abattoirs in the metropolis. This was achieved through the following objectives; identifying the existing abattoirs; assessing the location and their distribution; also assessing the condition/adequacy of the environment. Survey adopted for this study is the survey research method which involved field observation, land use survey. A total of twenty-three slaughterhouses were identified in the study area; two standard abattoirs and twenty-one are substandard. Findings revealed most of the abattoirs are sited without consideration to where, how and what should be done about the waste generated by the abattoir and how this waste will be taken care of; abattoir waste both solid and liquid with exemption of plastics are biodegradable and can be controlled and managed using best practices in waste management and disposal practices. Most of the abattoirs in the metropolis don’t have basic ancillary facilities and services necessary for the daily functional operation of an abattoir; abattoirs contribute to the emission of smokes into the atmosphere through the burning of hides and skins, hoofs, heads and tails and bones. The study recommended ten new slaughter houses to be added to the twenty-three existing already. Slaughter houses are to be properly located using the specification of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The travel distances should be implemented based on the accepted services and travel distance of not more than 1.6km for the slaughter slabs and 3km for the medium and standard abattoirs. The Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) and the ministry of Agriculture should come together and develop a standard on abattoir hygiene to reduce environmental degradation, waste storage, and improve on treatment of abattoir waste management and disposal.

Key words: Assessment, Abattoirs, Spatial, Distribution