Integrating multi-source remote sensing data for monitoring urban development in West Africa

Cities in West Africa have been growing rapidly due to natural population growth and rural-urban migration. This dynamic process has several impacts, yet temporarily and spatially detailed information is often unavailable. Multi-sensor satellite data allow monitoring physical aspects of migration processes. In this paper, we integrate cost-free data from different sources and resolutions to analyze patterns of urban development in cities in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria between 2012 and 2021. We show different urban and economic development patterns in the studied cities, suggesting distinctive migration processes. These data might support the understanding of development and migration processes in a city and in relation to other cities and countries.