Journal of Geography, Environment and Earth Science International 14(1): 1-14, 2018; Article no.JGEESI.39994 ISSN: 2454-7352 Geographic Foci of Industries: A Suitability Analysis Abia, Moses1, Eja, Iwara1, Njoku, Chukwudi Gbadebo1*, Okeniyi, Oluwafemi Olubukola2 and Itu, Prince-Charles Omin1 1Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. 2Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/JGEESI/2018/39994 Editor(s): (1) Masum A. Patwary, Geography and Environmental Science, Begum Rokeya University, Bangladesh. Reviewers: (1) Mandadapu.S. V. K. V. Prasad, Swarnandhra College of Engineering &Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India. (2) Kabir Haruna Danja, Kampala International University, Uganda School of Economics and Applied Statistic, Uganda. (3) Yonnana Ezekiel, Adamawa State University, Nigeria. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/23672 Received 4th January 2017 th Original Research Article Accepted 13 March 2018 Published 16th March 2018 ABSTRACT Industrial development in the world, especially in developing countries is a prevailing issue with serious emphases on the location of these industries. Finding suitable geographic foci for industries is very important for administrators of firms, investors as well as the government. This geared this study which proffered the most suitable foci for industrial location in Calabar metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria. In all, data obtained include locations of existing tertiary industries, airport and dumpsite. Also were population figures, pipe-borne water network, topographic, land use and cadastral data (boundaries, roads and rivers). The data analysis was done majorly with Geographic Information System operations (topographic, proximity, overlay and structured queries). Standard physical suitability criteria for siting an industry were considered. The analysis recommended the most suitable geographic foci for industries in the city. The best site deducted from the analysis covers a land area of 2.23sq km, situated at the far eastern corner of the metropolis, by the boundary of the metropolis and Akpabuyo Local Government Area. It was thus recommended that a multi-criteria site selection analysis must be executed for a more precise, effective and sustainable selection of the best site for locating industries in Calabar and elsewhere. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Moses et al.; JGEESI, 14(1): 1-14, 2018; Article no.JGEESI.39994 Keywords: Industrial location; industry; geographic foci; geographic information systems; multi- criteria analysis; suitability; Calabar. 1. INTRODUCTION these technologies have reshaped the explanation of industrial locations. More so, In the past, location was very important for these technologies have made the world a global industrial development. Based on theoretical village in which everywhere seems closer to background, distance from raw materials and each other. The role of location is all but absent. markets were the major factors for industrial If anything, the predisposition has been to see locations. However, interest in location has location as weakening in importance as declined as part of the main factors for industrial globalization allows industries to source capital, development as a result of development of goods and technology from anywhere and to sophisticated technology and competition over locate operations wherever it is most cost time. In fact, in the world of global competition, it effective. For example, majority of industrial is argued that location is no more relevant [1-3]. products used in the USA are from China, with a Attention has shifted from country level to firm total of $478.8 billion worth of goods imported level, that is, how firms relate to each other from China in 2016 [6]. This has become spatially and non-spatially. This indicates that possible with ease as a result of present cluster or geographical concentration of development in technology [7,8]. Therefore, the interconnected companies are a prominent inkling of cost of transport has almost become feature of nearly every national, regional, state antique. However, labour and external economic and even metropolitan economy, especially in of scale are still relevant factors being more advanced nations. Scholars have outlined considered in the location of industries. three major advantages of location externalities of industries [4,5]. These advantages are; the Furthermore, overtime, location have been intensity of a labor pool, the availability of related absent in explaining industrial development, materials and other inputs at lower cost and the however, [9] argued that situation, that is, relative intensity of knowledge exchange. Therefore, location of industries is very important. Porter’s geographic concentration or foci of industries idea gives clusters a prominent role. Clusters are play an important role in industrial development. geographic concentrations of interconnected However, recent phenomena of urbanization and companies, specialized suppliers and service environmental problems such as noise pollution, providers, firms in related industries and air pollutions and so on echoes the need for associated institutions in particular fields that suitable location of industries especially in the compete but also cooperate. Such clusters are a developing nations. Moreover, decisions about striking feature of virtually every economy, geographic foci of industries typically involve the especially those of more economically advanced evaluation of multiple criteria according to often areas. While agglomeration has long been part of conflicting objectives. Geographic Information the economic landscape, the configuration and System (GIS) has remained a valuable tool to the role of clusters seem to be taking on a new deal with such multiple criteria issues. role [7,9]. This means modern economic activity is also carried out through a complex external The impact of technology on industrial division of labour between establishments, firms, development can never be over emphasized. and industries, which in turn have to relate to Generally, technology has two main impacts on each other through transactions. This intra and industrial development. They are within and inter-industry input–output structure has a outside industrial activities. With the aid of geography; location. Furthermore, studies have technological development, the operation in the shown that there are positive externalities in industry have become effective and efficient. As geographic foci of industries [4,5,10]. Therefore, a result of technology development, operations in based on the background, geography; location is industries has shifted from manual to automatic a significant factor in present industrial which has automatically helped the output. In development. addition, the development of technology has not only helped industrial activities but others outside More so, economic activity is clustered in this which eventually contribute to smooth running of way to create a controlled environment for industries. The technologies of telecommunica- industrialization to flourish especially in the tion and transportation have great impact on presence of chronic infrastructural deficits. This industrial development. In fact, the availability of has traditionally taken the form of industrial 2 Moses et al.; JGEESI, 14(1): 1-14, 2018; Article no.JGEESI.39994 estates or parks. The main benefit of the based on numerous data concerning the problem localization of firms in this way is that it allows for and it has been estimated that 80 percent of data infrastructural provisions to be prioritized and to used by managers and decision makers are give firms a competitive edge while offering geographical (spatial) in nature. Decision access to raw materials, skilled labour, problems that involve geographical data are technology and materials. Nigeria has a number referred to as geographical or spatial decision of large industrial estates and complexes but has problems. In the past, site selection was based also witnessed the spontaneous development of almost purely on economic and technical criteria. small clusters across the country. The latter Today, a higher degree of sophistication is includes the computer village in Otigba, Lagos, expected with critical consideration of physical the auto and industrial spare parts fabricators in and spatial characteristics as was done in this Nnewi, the leather tannery in Kano and the study. footwear, leatherworks, and garment cluster in Aba [11]. More so, prominent feature of the Historically, the focus for industrial location industrial sector in Nigeria is the existence of a research has been on those variables influencing number of special economic zones which is also the choice of location for new firms. In their an idea of geographic concentration of prescriptions for industrial location planning, companies. There are approximately 25 free some authors in the past [12,13,14] repeatedly trade zones licensed by the federal government emphasized the importance of critical demand of which two are located in Cross River State and factors (location