Land Cover Mapping Analysis and Urban Growth Modelling Using Remote Sensing Techniques in Greater Cairo Region—Egypt

A significant urban expansion is projected for the Greater Cairo Region (GCR) by 2025, with 14% of vegetation and 4% of desert areas expected to be converted into urban land. This study utilized remote sensing techniques, including Support Vector Machines (SVM) for land use-land cover mapping and Land Change Modeler (LCM), to analyze spatial and temporal urban growth patterns from 1984 to 2014. The research identified intense urbanization pressures around UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Great Pyramids, Islamic Cairo, and Al-Baron Palace, with the Pyramids area experiencing a rise from 28% in 2014 to an estimated 40% by 2025. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable urban planning to protect historical locations while accommodating rapid population growth.

Megahed, Y., Cabral, P., Silva, J., & Caetano, M. (2015). Land Cover Mapping Analysis and Urban Growth Modelling Using Remote Sensing Techniques in Greater Cairo Region—Egypt. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 4(3), 1750–1769. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi4031750