FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

This project was undertaken for the purpose of creating a Utility map of the University of Benin. The goals were to locate subsurface utilities using the Global Navigation Satellite System and to provide information from the data in form of maps. This details the procedures that are taken to collect, process, and manipulate data from secondary sources as well as data collected on the field in order to accomplish the project's objective. The fieldwork took place in July/August 2023. The TERSUS GNSS rover used during this fieldwork was connected to Geosystem CORS, which was used to obtain the X, Y, and Z coordinates for all the utilities inside the research area, and the antenna of the rover was placed at 200 cm was used to obtain the height. Data from the field was downloaded from the data logger, transferred to a notepad, and then opened in a Microsoft Excel environment. With ArcMap's display X, Y data tool, the excel file was opened and then converted to shapefile format. It was added as a layer using the shapefile. The layer was placed on top of a Google Earth image of the study area, however there was a slight displacement that was fixed with ArcGIS's spatial adjustment tool. An extensive and precise database of subsurface utilities has been produced as a result of the underground mapping project at the University of Benin utilizing GNSS technology. The location, depth, type, and condition of the several utility networks on campus have all been usefully revealed by this mapping project. The university has considerably enhanced its infrastructure management, safety procedures, and maintenance processes by utilizing GNSS technology. The mapping data acts as a fundamental resource for upcoming development initiatives, ensuring effective resource allocation, reducing disruptions, and improving the overall sustainability of the campus infrastructure

What is interior design? It is the art, science, and business planning of a creative, technical, sustainable, and functional interior solution that corresponds to the architecture of a space, while incorporating process and strategy, a mandate for well-being, safety, and health, with informed decisions about style and aesthetics. An interior designer is on who manages The objective of the study is to find out where individual budgets and personaltastes tie in with various interior design styles and trends. The study aims to identify the already existing styles present in Benin City as well as highlight the styles ranging from the most pocket friendly styles to the ostentatious styles for individuals in Benin City.With a rise In the population of home owners over the years, either through inheritance or purchase, there are a number of individuals who are oblivious to the importance of interior design within Benin city, where there is still a saturation of old mud and zinc buildings with the most interesting thingsabout a typical house's interior being wood carved doors or ornaments, we take a dive into Benin society so as to uncover the reasons for the apathy towards style and aesthetics when it comes to decorating and designing a space. There is a clear lack of intentionality present among Residents of the city of Benin,when it comes to interior design.

The Graphic Design Studio is a standard workspace where all digital works are carried out effectively. However, this report shows that, unlike the Graphic Design Studio, a graphics workshop is very important for executing all manual jobs without causing chaos in the space. A personal study has shown that the Graphic Design studios were not configured for manual
jobs hence the need for a studio workshop. Therefore, the practical project aims to craft a Workshop studio in the Graphic Design Section of the Fine and Art Department, University of Benin. It is on this premise, therefore, that the 2022/2023 graphic design section students decided to take up the challenge of crafting a workshop studio to proffer a solution to the
issues of insufficient space, lack of appropriate tools, undermined creativity, inefficiency in carrying out practical works and procrastination of assignments. Through the crafting of a conducive and spacious workshop, all kinds of practical works can be done, ranging from of cutting of stencils to splashing of colors, dabbing of inks, framing of artworks, and so on. With the provision of workshop materials such as metal stools, wooden tables, metal tables, drawing tables, ceiling fans, electrical fittings, light box, metal windows, reinforcements and doors, it is expected that with these facilities put in place, the workshop will inspire present and future Graphic Design students to express and explore their inner creativity.

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.

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 to
evaluate 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.

This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing locally sourced flint, borax, kaolin and other suitable glaze raw materials in Edo State for the production of low-melting glazes. Consequently, sourcing and utilization of glaze suitable raw materials for formulation of low melting glaze at studio level has been problematic despite the significant role of glaze in ceramic production, scarcity and development of local glaze for use including dependance on imported glaze raw materials for glaze formulation have created the inability to glaze ceramic products in the ceramic unit of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts in the University of Benin. Effort was made with this study to bridge the foregoing goal by identifying and sourcing flint, borax, kaolin and other suitable glaze raw materials locally to formulate low melting glaze of 1050°c. The raw materials were characterized and formulated into glaze compositions. The glazes compositions were then applied to ceramic test tiles and were fired to different temperatures. The results show that the locally sourced raw materials can be used to produce low-melting glazes with desirable properties. The study demonstrates the potential for local sourcing and utilization of raw materials in Edo State, promoting Economic Development, Sustainability, and Innovation in the ceramic industries in Nigeria.

This study assessed the maintenance culture of administrative buildings within the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The research aimed to identify the prevailing maintenance strategy, evaluate the factors influencing its practice, and highlight the associated challenges. A survey approach was adopted, targeting relevant maintenance personnel and facility users. Findings reveal that the maintenance culture in UNIBEN is predominantly reactive (breakdown maintenance), with minimal adherence to preventive maintenance protocols. Key challenges identified include inadequate and untimely release of maintenance funds, shortage of experienced technical manpower, use of sub-standard materials for repairs, and a lackadaisical attitude towards facility care by both staff and users. These factors contribute to the accelerated deterioration of the administrative structures. The study concludes that the absence of a proactive, well-funded, and organized maintenance culture compromises the functionality and lifespan of UNIBEN's administrative facilities. Recommendations emphasize the urgent need for a transition to a scheduled preventive maintenance program, improved budgetary allocations, and staff training to foster a more sustainable and effective maintenance culture.

Coloured aluminium roofing sheets represents the common roofing sheet for the most houses in Benin city. Different colours of aluminium deliver various impacts on the indoor environment. This study focuses on estimating the amount of heat gain and roof surface temperature obtained from different colours of aluminium . The paper hypothesizes that colour techniques could affect the thermal efficiency of aluminium roofs. The research was based on the simulation analysis applied on an actual room size with different colours (dark purple, green and orange} in the University of Benin, Benin-city. As a result, the findings affirm the hypothesis and show the significance of roof colour in the thermal efficiency of aluminium roof. This study contributes efficiently to the knowledge of the roofing design in the tropics. In addition, it will shed light on the economic sector and sustainability for optimum roofing concept particularly for low cost housing components in Nigeria.

The persistent use of manual methods in property management within Benin City, EdoState, Nigeria, poses significant challenges, including inefficiency, time consumption, and increasedrisk of inaccuracies. This study aims to investigate the applications of Geographic InformationSystems (GIS) in enhancing estate management practices in Benin City by assessing the rateofadoption, identifying commonly used GIS tools and software, and exploring the challengeshindering the implementation of GIS technology. A descriptive survey research designwasadopted, targeting all 66 registered estate surveying and valuation firms in Benin Cityusingatotal enumeration sampling technique. Data collection was carried out using structuredquestionnaires, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencycounts, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Findings indicate that GIS adoption in propertymanagement is low, with only 29.4% of firms reporting its use despite 88.24%of respondentsbeing familiar with the technology. Most firms (70.6%) have not adopted GIS, and 96.1%ofrespondents disagreed that its use is widespread. Staff training on GIS remains limited, with80.4% of respondents stating that their firms have not invested in such programs. However, 68.6% agree that the benefits of GIS are well understood, indicating that barriers to adoptionaredue to technical and financial constraints rather than a lack of awareness. ArcGISandQGISemerged as the most commonly used GIS software, but their utilization remains limitedduetocost and inadequate technical knowledge. The study concludes that while awareness of GIStechnology is high among property management professionals, its adoption is hinderedbyinsufficient training and financial constraints. It recommends that estate management firmsinvest in staff training programs, collaborate with technology providers to access affordableGISsolutions, and adopt policies that encourage the integration of GIS into property management
operations. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts of GISadoptionon property valuation accuracy and client satisfaction.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants that can be found on many
surfaces including grasses that are often consumed by ruminants. It was therefore
hypothesized that bacteria in the intestine of cow may have the potential to degrade PAHs. The aim of the study was to isolate PAH(s) degrading organisms from the large intestine of
cows. Bacteria were isolated from the intestinal chyme of the large intestine of a healthy cow
collected at the point of slaughter by serial dilution/direct plating and enrichment methods. Physicochemical parameters including; pH, temperature, moisture content, total solids, volatile solids and total suspended solids were analysed. The isolates were identified by
standard microbiological test protocol (Gram reaction and biochemical tests) and screened for
PAH degradation potential using the 2-6 dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) redox dye, quantified by a UV_VIS spectrophotometer. The identity of the two isolates with the highest
PAH degradation capacity after preliminary degradation tests, was confirmed following
API20e tests analysis and 16S rRNA molecular analysis. The two isolates were used to
inoculate carbon free Bushnell Haas medium containing the PAHs in single and combined
cultures for the degradation tests. Samples were withdrawn at intervals of three days and
analyzed for bacterial growth, pH, temperature, BOD, COD and changes in the concentration
of the PAHs for 16 days. The optimum temperature, pH, concentration and nutrient
supplementation for efficient degradation was analyzed following standard protocol and genes
responsible for degradation identified. The two test isolates selected after screening and identification were Escherichia coli and
Klebsiella pneumoniae. HPLC/GCMS analyses showed that the concentration of
Benzo[a]Pyrene declined by 84.8%, 91.04% and 96.44% by E. coli, K. pnuemoniae and a
combination of both respectively after 16 days. The reduction in pyrene concentration was
89.36%, 90.98% and 97.76% after exposure to E. coli, K. puemoniae and a combination of
both respectively while the decline of floranthene concentration stood at 86.4%, 90.3% and
92.3.7% after similar exposure to the test bacteria. ANOVA confirmed significant differences
in the extent of the degradation of the PAHs by the test bacteria and their combined cultures
(P<0.05). The growth of the isolates combined peaked at 1.98 log cfu/ml between days 10 and
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13 during degradation of BaP. With respect to pyrene, it peaked at day thirteen
with a log cfu value of 2.86 while in medium containing floranthene day 13 with a log cfu
value of 3.23. The pH of medium adjusted to 7.0 declined in the three mediums with the least
pH value for BaP, Pyrene and Flouranthene being 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7 respectively during
degradation of the PAHs. Phthalate was the major degradation product in the course of
degradation of the PAHs. The optimum temperature and pH conditions for the degradation of
the PAHs was 35°C and pH 7, respectively while PAHs ≥ 1000 mg inhibited the growth of the
test bacteria. Application of fertilizer (NPK) enhanced growth of the test bacteria and
degradation of the PAHs. The genes associated with the degradation of PAHs in E. coli and K. pneumoniae were found to be alkane monooxygenase (alkB), Napthalene dioxygenase
(NahAC) and Catechol dioxygenase (C230). It can be concluded that the intestine of Bos tarus
harbor strains of bacteria that are capable of a high degree of degradation of PAHs; and that
the consortium of the bacterial strains can be potentially useful for bioremediation of PAH- polluted environment.