GEOSPATIAL EVALUATION OF SURVEILLANCE FACILITIES IN RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS, PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA
Adequate surveillance infrastructure is essential for ensuring safety and security within university campuses, particularly in fast-growing and densely populated environments like Rivers State University Main Campus, Port Harcourt. Despite the university’s expansion in student population and infrastructure, the development and spatial optimization of surveillance facilities such as streetlights and CCTV systems have not kept pace. Several areas remain poorly lit or completely dark at night, posing serious security risks. The lack of a coordinated geospatial database further hinders effective planning, monitoring, and maintenance of these facilities, increasing vulnerability to crime and reducing the effectiveness of existing security measures. This study aimed to evaluate the geospatial location of surveillance facilities within the university’s main campus. The objectives were to identify and classify the existing surveillance infrastructure, develop a geospatial database, analyze proximity to major campus hubs, and produce spatial and hotspot maps of surveillance coverage. Field data were collected using GPS receiver to map features such as solar lights, electric lights, CCTV cameras, and security units. The data were analyzed using GIS techniques to determine spatial distribution patterns and identify gaps in surveillance coverage. Findings revealed a total of 981 surveillance features, with solar-powered lights accounting for 786 units (80.1%), indicating a strong reliance on renewable energy. CCTV cameras made up only 4.5% of the total, highlighting a significant deficiency in visual monitoring. Security units constituted just 2.1%. Buffer analysis around selected hubs such as the PG Hostel, Central Library, and Faculty of Engineering showed disparities in infrastructure coverage relative to spatial extent and functional significance. Some areas, notably residential zones, had higher surveillance concentration, while key academic hubs had fewer and sometimes non-functional facilities. In conclusion, the study established that although progress have been made in deploying lighting infrastructure, the surveillance system remains uneven and under-optimized. It is recommended that the university expand CCTV coverage, improve maintenance, integrate facilities into a centralized GIS-based management system, and conduct regular spatial audits. These actions would enhance security, ensure efficient resource allocation, and promote a safer campus environment.
KEYWORDS: Surveillance facilities, GIS & Remote Sensing, CCTV, Street lighting, RSU, Campus security
