Exploring spatially enabled web for student housing accessibility in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

This study focuses on optimizing student accommodation decisions. It analyzed the geospatial distribution of off-campus student hostels near Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to assist potential tenants in selecting suitable and budget-friendly accommodations. The study involves mapping hostel locations, constructing a comprehensive database, and creating an accessible platform for sharing spatial insights. Methodologically, it combines interviews with hostel residents and administrators with the integration of ArcGIS and Google My Maps to synthesize spatial and non-spatial data. Findings revealed students’ hostels were clustered near the campus; the study also offered diverse housing selection options influenced by rental costs, electricity availability, security, amenities, and proximity to school. This study enriches off-campus housing selection through spatially enabled web technology, contributes to geospatial-based real estate practices and serves as a foundational resource for improving student housing accessibility in academic settings. The study recommends a continuous database update to maintain relevance