Geographical Analysis of Urban Sprawl on Agricultural Lands in the Zawiya Region for The Period 1995–2025

Abstract

This study examines the geographical analysis of urban sprawl on agricultural lands in the Al-Zawiya region during the period (1995–2025). It does so by identifying the causes that led to this expansion, in addition to analyzing the factors that contributed to it. The study aims to monitor and analyze spatial changes in land-use patterns, particularly the transformation from agricultural use to urban use. It relies on geographical analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and satellite imagery to track the development of the urban area and compare it with agricultural lands across successive time periods. The study employs several methodological approaches, including the historical method to trace the development of the phenomenon over different time stages, as well as the descriptive method to describe and analyze its components .The study also addressed the  stages of urban growth in the Al-Zawiya region during the period (1995–2025). This period was characterized by a significant expansion in the size of the urban mass, where the urban area amounted to approximately 904 km² in 1995 and increased substantially to about 23,991 km² by 2025. This expansion included different urban patterns, such as planned development, formally organized planning, and unplanned (informal) growth. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques were employed to examine the stages and directions of this expansion, and the study concludes by presenting the most important findings and recommendations.