Towards Adaption of Digital Geo-Info technologies in Urban Planning And Management: The Case of Nairobi City, Kenya

Dr. Andrew T. Imwati, Okoth George Odhiambo

Abstract: Most planners and urban development managers in the region have met limited success as they sought to respond to the spatial development related challenges posed by the current dramatic urbanization syndrome trends, now taking place in most developing countries. Various reasons are given to explain the limitations that they normally encounter. These include inadequate geo-data and the inefficiency-prone traditional planning methods. Availability of reliable and comprehensive geo-spatial data is critical to effective spatial developmental planning and management at all level, , local, national and regional levels. This research paper therefore, attempts to examine the extent of mapping / planning geo-data needs and requirements in Kenya, and the potential of adoption and use of modern digital geo- information technologies (GITs) as alternative tools for geo- data provision, mapping, planning as opposed to hitherto traditionally used cadastral-based systems and approaches. The digital geo-information technologies under investigation are mainly, Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Keywords: Land use / Land tenure, Informal settlements, Land use management, Land use planning, Urbanization, Geo-Information Technologies GITs, RS, GPS, GIS, Geo-Data/Information, Spatial Planning/Mapping, Cadastral, Conventional systems