Geographic Information System (GIS) and Management of Office/Class Spaces in Nigerian Universities: Akwa Ibom State University Example

The study was conducted in Obio Akpa Campus of Akwa Ibom State University, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to establish staff office and class room spaces information using GIS support systems of generating, storing, analyzing and retrieval of such information. Education Trust Fund (ETF) office Block, Room16 and Social & Management Sciences (SMS) Lecture Halls Block, Room 9 were selected as samples of office and class room spaces respectively. Satellite Imagery of the study area was obtained from the ‘Google Earth Company’ using “Google Earth” software, version 5.0.11337.1968. The Image is dated 1/13/2014 and ground confirmations were carried out using the Garmin Global Positioning System (GPS) 72H model. The imagery was geo-referenced using Geographic Tie-point Coordinate approach in “Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) environment and ArcView 3.2 with Extensions, was used in the application. The study developed a system that makes it possible to identify office or class room block with just a click of button and the view of spatial and non-spatial office/class room details such as the room size, room capacity, ventilation, furniture, electrical appliances, equipment and mode information, year of installation, etc. The establishment of “Geographic Information Management GIS) Unit” in the Directorate of Physical Planning of the University was recommended.