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Samuel Edet Bassey,
- Researcher, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (B.ENG)
Abstract
The paper reviews the Nigerian Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, outlining the established air quality thresholds and emission caps for stationary sources. The standard applies to; common pollutants like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides; toxic metals such as arsenic, nickel, cadmium and mercury; as well as volatile organic compounds, ammonia, antimony, zinc, formaldehyde and radon.It also describes the major classifications of remote sensing applications, including ground-based, satellite-based, and aircraft-based systems, together with the sensors and facilities employed, such as LiDAR, radar, visible and near-infrared (VNIR), shortwave infrared (SWIR), thermal infrared (TIR), microwave sensors, GPS receivers, and weather stations. The paper further identifies the project categories requiring Environmental Impact Assessment, including agricultural projects, airports, drainage systems, dams, land reclamation, fisheries, forestry, housing developments, industrial chemical plants, paper factories, industrial estates, mining operations, oil and gas fields, power plants, quarries, railways, coastal hotels, and waste disposal systems. In addition, it demonstrates the application of remote sensing techniques in geodetic and terrain mapping, vegetation monitoring, surface temperature assessment, soil and geological studies, surface roughness analysis, atmospheric monitoring, water resource monitoring, snow and ice monitoring, volcanic monitoring, bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) analysis, land-use mapping, and land-cover classification.The EIA Act specifies outdoor air quality limits, including sulphur dioxide (20 µg/m³ annually), nitrogen dioxide (80 µg/m³ annually), carbon monoxide (10 mg/m³ hourly), particulate matter (600 µg/m³ annually), ozone (180 µg/m³ hourly), lead (1 µg/m³ annually), arsenic (6,000 ng/m³ annually), nickel (20,000 ng/m³ annually), and ammonia (0.2 mg/m³ annually). These findings demonstrate that continuous pollutant assessment is essential for environmental protection, as development projects can pose significant environmental threats if they are not adequately evaluated.
Keywords: Climate change, Environmental Impact Assessment, Nigeria, Compliance, Standards, Monitoring, Remote Sensing, Sensors, Air Quality Index.
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| Volume | 04 | |
| 02 | ||
| Received | 11/07/2026 | |
| Accepted | 16/07/2026 | |
| Published | 17/08/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 37 Days |