HARNESSING GIS, REMOTE SENSING, AND AI FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND USE AND SOIL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA

Obasi S. N., Obasi C. C., Nwosu T. V., and C. O. Maduek

DOI: 10.26480/bda.02.2026.47.55

ABSTRACT
Sustainability in the management of soil and land resources is key to food security, environmental preservation, and development of Africa’s economy. African’s survival has faced enormous threats and challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, desertification, and the impacts of climate change over the years. There is therefore the need to find ways to tackle these situations using more innovative and scalable ways. This review gathers information from current studies in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for soil and land use management in Africa. A methodological systematic approach was used. This involves the screening of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and policy documents published between 2010 and 2025. The review basically looks at the
dynamic role of GIS in spatial analysis and land evaluation. The use of remote sensing in vegetation monitoring and soil dynamics were also looked at. The recent AI adoption in predictive soil map studies, degradation modeling, and aerial image interpretation. It explores the synergistic use of multi-source datasets and hybrid approaches, alongside institutional and policy dimensions such as open data policies, capacity building, and public–private partnerships. Key points centered on the wide adoption and use of the emerging technologies such as drones, Internet of Things (IoTs), cloud computing, and big data analytics in precision agriculture and sustainable land management studies. There is however, huge set back emanating from data accessibility, technical expertise, and ethical guidelines for AI applications. The review concludes with a call for increased investment, regional collaboration, and policy support to fully harness digital technologies for sustainable soil and land use management in Africa.

KEYWORDS
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Soil Resource Management, Sustainable Land Use in Africa