Assessing the Impact of Morphological Development on the Adequacy of the Urban Road Network in the City of Ajdabiya

Abstract

This study examines the morphological changes that have occurred in the city of Ajdabiya over successive historical periods and investigates their relationship with the adequacy of the urban road network. It evaluates the extent to which urban expansion has been matched by growth in the road network, with the aim of identifying temporal and spatial disparities in network adequacy and assessing the capacity of the road system to accommodate the increasing demand resulting from urban transformation., The findings reveal that the city's morphology underwent substantial development between 1966 and 2026, with the urban area increasing by an absolute total of 2,757 hectares, representing a growth rate of 1,462.7%. The study also found that the road network expanded by approximately 204 hectares, corresponding to a growth rate of 775%.

Despite this expansion, the proportion of land allocated to the road network relative to the total urban area has steadily declined and remains well below both the national and international planning benchmark of 25%. During the first morphological stage (1966–1979), the road network accounted for approximately 13.9% of the city's total area. However, by the most recent morphological stage (2000–2026), this proportion had decreased to only 7.8%., The study recommends adopting an integrated urban planning approach that takes into account the relationship between morphological development and road network expansion. It also emphasizes the need to modernize current planning practices by implementing more flexible planning mechanisms that facilitate implementation, promote equitable distribution of urban services, and ensure effective monitoring. Furthermore, when determining the land allocated for transportation uses, the relevant authorities should consider future urban expansion and projected population growth to ensure the long-term adequacy and sustainability of the urban road network.