ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Colour is an inextricable element of the world we are in, and its influence on how people perceive their surroundings is irrefutable. Colour is considered as an integral element of our environment, natural and constructed. The psychological effects of color mean that color’s impact on each and every individual are vast, however, people rarely have a clue of how these effects are even occurring. Psychologically certain feelings or reactions can be induced by colour, the same applies in architecture colour impacts how the users of the building feels. Even though most of people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the effects of color in their homes, the color and design in our home should reflect the people who live inside, the designers and homeowners should use colors wisely to create the intended atmosphere in each space. This study highlights the important role of colour in residential designs. It is an undertaken study comprising of a survey of interviewed people from different walks of life in Benin City to assess their perception and colour preference in the use of colors in residential buildings and concluded that people expressed color as an important factor in their homes. They also believe that color affects health, mood & emotions of the person.

The purpose of this research is to examine how real estate has influenced the availability of affordable housing in Nigeria. Real estate has the potential to contribute significantly to the growth of affordable housing. Until recently, knowledge about its composition and development was fairly limited. This research work seeks to document the significance of affordable housing as it has been recognized as a key priority by the Nigerian government, given the Real Estate sectors importance in addressing social needs and its role in the local economy. A central part of local capacity building in real estate is the use of local currency to match assets and liabilities and to minimize exposure to foreign exchange risk, thereby providing affordable housing. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of using locally sourced materials in home construction in driving economic development and, as a result, providing affordable housing. It can have extremely beneficial primary and secondary effects in driving economic growth; however, in the design and construction of housing developments, architects, developers, and financiers must consider local habits and cultures. The findings of this study will have an impact on architects, estate managers, and other stakeholders in Nigeria, promoting sustainable urban development and affordable housing

Flooding, erosion, and inadequate drainage systems have continued to pose significant
hydrological challenges affecting the durability and performance of road infrastructure in
Benin City. One of the most impacted corridors is Temboga Road, situated within the IkpobaOkha Local Government Area. This study employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
and Remote Sensing methods to evaluate the hydrological characteristics of the Temboga
area and develop sustainable solutions for resilient hydraulic infrastructure design and
planning. Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) sourced from the Shuttle Radar Topography
Mission (SRTM/ USGS), combined with high-resolution UAV (Phantom 4) imagery and
differential GNSS observations, were processed within ArcGIS Pro and Global Mapper
environments to delineate watersheds, trace flow accumulation pathways, and identify floodprone zones. The Rational Method was applied to estimate peak runoff, while GIS-based
spatial were used to evaluate drainage and erosion-vulnerable locations. Findings indicate that Temboga Road lies across multiple sub-catchments (eight in total)
within the Ikpoba River basin characterized by low-lying topography, high rainfall intensity
exceeding 2,400mm annually, and sandy-loam soils that are highly susceptible to erosion.
The integration of GIS and hydrological analysis proved instrumental for evidence-based
decision-making, enabling engineers and planners to visualize water flow dynamics, mitigate
flood risks, and design drainage systems that strengthen the resilience and sustainability of
road infrastructures. Ultimately, this research demonstrates the value of spatial intelligence in
transforming traditional hydrological assessments into proactive tools for sustainable
infrastructural development along Temboga Road, Benin City.

Property valuation is a critical component of the real estate industry, influencing transactions, investment decisions, taxation, and urban planning. Traditional valuation methods often rely on subjective judgment, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. This study examines the impact of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) on property valuation, using Benin City as a case study. GIS integrates spatial data analysis with property valuation, enabling a more precise assessment of factors such as location, market trends, and environmental influences. The research employs a survey methodology, collecting data from estate surveyors and valuers toevaluate GIS adoption, its benefits, and the challenges hindering its implementation. Findings reveal that GIS enhances valuation accuracy by improving data integration, visualization, and spatial analysis. However, challenges such as high implementation costs, lack of trained personnel, and data inconsistencies hinder its widespread adoption. The study concludes that GIS has the potential to revolutionize property valuation, provided that stakeholders address the identified barriers through investment in training, infrastructure, and policy support.

A sustainable design guide has a huge potential to enhance the sustainability of the built environment. This project work investigates the impact of climate change on building designs using two prominent areas in Benin City as case studies; The Centenary Celebration of Egedege N’ Okaro and National Museum, Benin City Edo State. The design and method of this study which is mostly observation and conclusion drawn. The population of the study are basically conventional buildings methods, materials, and design concepts used in Benin City’s historical architectural style. The findings of this study shows that; Climate change is no longer a myth or subject for debate but rather a subject for action, there is a two way relationship between climate change and buildings, there is huge evidence of the negative impacts of climate change globally and particularly in Nigeria and there is very little research activities in the subject of climate and buildings in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. Concluding that Nigeria to take up such challenges and embark on more research studies and as a result provide data as tangible evidence to argue for more government actions for the overall good of sustainable development in Nigeria. Thus, the research aim is achieved with the formulation of a sustainable residential design framework. Also, all the research objectives and research questions were addressed as stated at different sections of this thesis, therefore recommending that it is necessary for the government to encourage active participation of the built environment professionals (stakeholders) on its policy formulation teams in order to encourage interactions and collaborations, also there is the need for the Nigerian government to encourage institutionalised climate change initiatives at all tiers of
government. In order to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, control mechanism and
implementation of climate change initiatives and lastly, there is the need to facilitate and quicken the actualization of the seemingly ‘comatose’ climate change policy draft and thereafter, to carry out an immediate review in conjunction with professional representatives and other relevant stakeholders.