Monitoring Urban Expansion and Urban Green Spaces Change in Addis Ababa: Directional and Zonal Analysis Integrated with Landscape Expansion Index

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is urbanizing very fast. This study aimed to assess urban expansion and Urban Green Spaces (UGS) change in city from 1989 2019. Remote Sensing Geographical Information System (GIS) Landscape Expansion Index (LEI) were used extract Land Use Cover (LULC) data, measure UGS analyze growth pattern inner zone, outer zone eight quadrants. The results showed that area increased 3712 ha 3716 (0.1%), 3874 (4.2%) first (1989–1999) second periods (1999–2009), while it decreased 3733 (3.6%) third period (2009–2019), portraying a non-unidirectional trend change. Conversely, 60 54 (10%), 38 (29.6%) periods, 53 (39.4%) period, reporting spatial tradeoff between two land cover types. Meanwhile, areas 10,729 15,112 (40%), 21,377 (41.4%) 28,176 (31.8%) first, respectively, representing frontiers suburbanization. On other hand, 3624 3171 ha, 3127 2555 1879 with an annual rate decline 1.25%, 1.8% 2.6%, showing increasing destruction for construction. Furthermore, LEI analysis result demonstrated largely outlying characterized by differentiation isolation patches, whereas infill edge insignificant fluctuated over 30 years. directional predominately expanded SEE,> SSE,> SSW,> SWW,> NEE directions varying magnitude but NWW, < NNW< NNE directions. In response such pattern, center gravity shifted north south during displaying main direction urbanization recent Conclusively, zonal studies are more effective characterizing Spatio-temporal dynamics variabilities informed planning towards sustainable development.