Assessment of Spatial Data and GIS Application in Urban Planning Practice in Kano Metropolitan Area

Geographic information systems and spatial data analysis have transformed urban planning practice globally by enabling evidence-based decision-making, land use monitoring, and infrastructure planning at spatial scales and accuracy levels previously unattainable, yet their application in Nigerian urban planning authorities remains limited and inconsistently implemented. This study assesses the current state of spatial data management and GIS application in urban planning practice at the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority. A professional audit methodology combined structured interviews with twenty-five planning officers and technical staff, a review of available digital datasets and GIS hardware and software resources, and an assessment of spatial data currency and completeness across key planning datasets including land use, road network, drainage, and building footprint layers. Capacity assessment evaluated the GIS technical competency of planning staff. Results indicate that KNUPDA maintains GIS hardware and ArcGIS software licences but active spatial data maintenance is limited to one technical officer and is severely constrained by inadequate staffing. The most recent comprehensive land use survey in digital form dates from 2018, with subsequent updates captured only partially. Building footprint data do not reflect significant development since 2019. Development control decisions are made without consistent spatial data reference in sixty-eight percent of observed cases. GIS training has been provided to only four of twenty-five professional staff. The study recommends immediate investment in spatial data update through drone imagery capture, the appointment of three additional GIS officers, and the integration of an open-source GIS platform with permit management workflows. Keywords: GIS application, urban planning, spatial data, Kano, development control.