Urban Land Use/Land Cover Change Dynamics using RS and GIS Techniques in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia

Abstract

The urban land cover has undergone significant changes due to rapid population growth. The aim of this research is to investigate the spatial extent and rate of LULC changes of the study area using remote sensing techniques by using tools: R-shiny, Collect Earth, QGIS, Arc GIS, GPS, Bing Maps, and the Google Earth Engine.The land use and land cover change (LULCC) analysis was conducted using four sets of satellite imagery; Key informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out to collect data on the drivers of land use and land cover changes, gather socioeconomic information, and cross-check the remote sensing data. The results showed significant LULC changes over the last 30 years. The built-up urban area has increased by 19,028.34 hectares, while agriculture, forest, and other land cover types have decreased by 11,460.42 hectares, 5,328.88 hectares, and 1,077.03 hectares, respectively. LULC Change in the study area has resulted from a combination of driving forces such as urbanization, industrialization, population pressure, it can be inferred that the city underwent a rapid Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC). To address the issue of LULC Changes Effective Land Use Planning is essential in managing or alleviating LULCC. The findings demonstrate that a rapid alteration in land use and land cover has occurred in the city. This modification was shaped by the interplay of immediate and fundamental driving forces.