Driving factors of urban sprawl in Giza Governorate of Greater Cairo Metropolitan Region using AHP method

Based on questionnaire surveys and the AHP method, this paper determines the driving forces of urban sprawl and analyzes their relative influence on sprawl in the middle, north, and south sectors of Giza Governorate, which is located in the western part of the Greater Cairo Metropolitan Region. Sprawl patterns in the study area were influenced by seven driving forces: geographical characteristics, availability of life facilities, economic incentives, land demand and supply, population increases, administrative functions, and development plans. These forces have varying degrees of influence in each sector. Amongst these forces, economic incentives in the middle sector, population increases in the north sector, and administrative functions in the south sector were the forces most influential in urban sprawl. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.