Abstract
Nowadays, uncontrolled urbanisation is one of the major problems facing Algerian oasis regions. The monitoring and evaluation of its landscape transformations remain a key step for any oasis sustainability project. This study highlights the evolution of spatial growth in the city of Adrar in southern Algeria during the period 1986-2016 by establishing a Spatio-temporal mapping and landscape quantification. The methodological approach is based on a multi-temporal analysis of Landsat satellite images for 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016, and the application of landscape metrics. The results show two opposite spatial trends: significant growth of built-up areas against an excessive loss of palm groves. The landscape metrics allowed the identification of a progressive fragmentation process characterising the palm groves. Thus, the findings of this study show the utility of satellite imagery and landscape metrics approach for monitoring urbanisation patterns and assessing their impacts on oasis ecosystems.
Highlights
Uncontrolled urbanisation is currently a major challenge for spatial planners and developers, given its irreversible effects on the biosphere at different scales
The results of the landscape metrics combined with the Spatio-temporal cartographic analysis have allowed highlighting the negative impact of uncontrolled urban expansions on the palm grove
It is important to adopt approaches based on remote sensing and landscape metrics to control the rapid and uncontrolled urbanisation that is currently taking place in oasis cities and reduce its adverse effects on palm groves
Summary
Uncontrolled urbanisation is currently a major challenge for spatial planners and developers, given its irreversible effects on the biosphere at different scales. The rapid urbanisation of territories is considered responsible for the degradation of agricultural land and local biodiversity as well as problems related to socio-spatial segregation (Elmqvist et al, 2013; UN, 2018). This galloping urbanisation is more accentuated in developing countries, but with less mastery of spatial planning (Cohen, 2006; Güneralp et al, 2017). Monitoring and Landscape Quantification of Uncontrolled Urbanisation in Oasis Regions: The Case of Adrar City in Algeria.
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