ABSTRACT
Adequate data are some of the requirements of successful planning. In Nigeria, the conventional sources of data and methods of collecting them have been largely inadequate. Remote sensing Is taken as a compliment to the conventional methods. It has had wide application in fields like agriculture, Forestry, archeology, geology, planning etc. In this study attempt was made to assess the level of awareness of remote sensing by planners, the cost of acquiring this data and areas of application that are of direct relevance to planning in Nigeria. Population which forms the basic requirement for any meaningful planning can be estimated using remote sensing. Using an area In Minna, the population was estimated from remote sensing data and compared with figures from other existing sources. The difference between the census figure (12,000 people) and our estimate (11,700 people) is only 2.5%. The phenomenal physical growth of the F.C.C Phase 1 over a 10-year period (1984-1994) has been measured and estimated quickly and cheaply using remote sensing. Between this period the growth rate of F.C.C Phase 1 was about 1193% or average 119% per annum. This clearly shows the dramatic growth of the city. The implication of this on the physical infrastructure can thus be drawn. These include housing, transportation, accommodation problems as well as general deterioration of the environment.