Simulating urban land use and cover dynamics using cellular automata and Markov chain approach in Addis Ababa and the surrounding

Efficient Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) monitoring and management require awareness of previous dynamics, current trends, and predictions of future developments. Understanding such an urban dynamics is, thus, necessary to deliberate a proper urban growth management approach. The study is aimed to simulate the LULC dynamics and develop a scenario-based LULC prediction for sustainable urban growth planning and management in the case of Addis Ababa and the surrounding area. The research employed a hybrid Cellular Automata, Markov chain (CA-Markov) and Multi-criteria Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) modeling approach. Accordingly, the research depicted continuous historical increment of Built-up spaces by consuming other ecologically valuable LULC classes. The quantitative measures of landscape metrics confirmed the benefit of Ecologically Sensitive Scenario (ESS) modeling as compared to Business As Usual Scenario (BAUS) as it keeps the dynamism of the city region more sustainable. ESS modeling enables an urban system to grow into a better way by making built-up augmentation relatively mild and controlling water bodies, forests and cultivated land losses. Therefore, this scenario-based simulation of the LULC dynamics providing decision-making options for those who strive for sustainable urban growth planning and management not only in the study region but also other similar cities.