LEAST COST PATH ANALYSIS OF YOLA ROAD TO BAUCHI ROAD, GOMBE STATE USING MULTI CRITERIA ANALYSIS

Abstract

Least Cost Path Analysis and Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a method used for
optimizing transportation planning between two specific locations, referred to as the "source" and
the "destination. The core aim of this project is to create a cost effective alternative for travelling
along Yola road and Bauchi road without having to pass through Gombe town to reduce influx of
traffic in the town. And to achieve this goal this project employed the technique of least cost path
analysis using MCDA to determine the important criteria and sub-criteria, the weight of each
criteria and sub-criteria, and generating cost surface, cost distance, cost backlink and the LCP,
we utilized various geospatial data sources, including Sentinel satellite imagery, Alos Palser DEM
(Digital Elevation Model) data, soil data and geological data. The software tool ArcMap 10.8 was
employed for data analysis and processing. The Criteria taken into consideration, includes land
use and land cover, slope characteristics, geological features, and soil types using Geographic
Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) the weight of each criterion was determined
by Analytical Hierarchy process (AHP) and the MCDA revealed that the LCP method used offers
a significantly and cost effective route option when compared to the existing path. This study was
conducted to develop a Least Cost Pathway (LCP) between a point along Yola road and another
point along Bauchi road in Gombe state. A least cost path Map of the area was generated with the
path being 9.9km from the source point to the destination which is 5.07km shorter than the existing
path which is 14.977km from the Same. The LCP analysis is based on analytical techniques that
provide efficient tools that should be employed for future Route planning in the region.