SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND CREATION OF GEO DATA BASE WITHIN DAMATURU METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT This study examines the spatial distribution of hotels within Damaturu Metropolis and develops a functional geo-database using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The rapid growth of hotels in Damaturu has created the need for an updated and centralized spatial inventory to support tourism development, urban planning, and emergency service delivery. Primary data were obtained through field surveys using handheld GPS devices to capture the coordinates and attributes of hotels. Secondary data, including base maps, were used to provide spatial context. The data were processed in ArcGIS 10.5 to create a comprehensive geo-database, perform spatial queries, and generate thematic maps. Buffer analysis was employed to assess hotel service coverage within a 1 km radius, while query operations were used to extract hotels based on ownership, hall availability, and room capacity. Results show that hotels in Damaturu are unevenly distributed, with clusters forming around GRA and commercial zones. Private ownership dominates the hotel industry, and most facilities have moderate room capacity. The geo-database developed provides a reliable spatial decision-support tool that can guide government agencies, investors, planners, and researchers. The study concludes that GIS is an effective tool for mapping, analyzing, and managing hotel infrastructure and recommends further integration of GIS for tourism planning and facility management in Damaturu.