Spatial Analysis of Abattoir Locations and Their Proximity to Residential Areas in Port Harcourt Metropolis

Mapping the spatial distribution of abattoirs is essential for effective urban planning and environmental management in Port Harcourt.This study adopted a systematic approach integrating field surveys and reconnaissance to gather and analyze comprehensive data.Field surveys involved physical visits to each abattoir, utilizing a Garmin GPS 72H handheld receiver to obtain precise GPS coordinates within the UTM Zone 32N system.Simultaneously, office reconnaissance using Google Earth provided initial insights into road networks and significant landmarks, facilitating efficient field survey logistics.During field reconnaissance, visual inspections assessed abattoir conditions, hygiene standards, waste management practices, and their proximity to residential areas and water bodies.Primary data collected were complemented by secondary sources from government records and urban planning documents, ensuring robustness and completeness of the dataset.Geographic Information System (GIS) software, specifically QGIS, enabled spatial analysis, generating maps that visually represented abattoir locations and their spatial relationships with residential areas.Proximity analysis and statistical calculations provided insights into spatial patterns and potential environmental impacts.The study identified a total of 33 abattoirs, with 13 located in Port Harcourt City LGA and 20 in Obio/Akpor LGA.The area occupied by each abattoir was accurately measured using cross-sectional measurements derived from GPS coordinates, totalling 33,253,561.187square meters.Findings revealed that Ultra-Modern Abattoir was situated closest to a water body, approximately 1.00 meter away, while Obio-Akpor International Market Abattoir Sars Road was the farthest, at 52.34 meters.Concerning proximity to residential buildings, Abuloma Market Abattoir was nearest at 1.95 meters, with Okuru Market Abattoir located farthest at 10.10 meters.Many abattoirs were found to be in close proximity to sensitive areas, a deviation from WHO guidelines recommending minimum distances of 200 meters from water bodies and 500 meters from residential areas.The implications of these findings are multifaceted, impacting environmental health, urban planning, and community well-being.