Urban Sprawl Between Spatial Dynamics and Sustainability Issues Case of the City of Béjaïa, Northern Algeria

Abstract

This paper analyzes the evolution of urban sprawl in the city of Béjaïa, located in northern Algeria, by examining land consumption from the country's independence in 1962 to the present day. Using a diachronic approach supported by Geographic Information Systems, the study highlights the increasing artificialization of land and its impacts on the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development. The results reveal a diffuse and uncontrolled urban expansion, characterized by fragmented urban fabric, the loss of agricultural and forested land, and growing spatial disparities. A critical analysis of urban planning tools reveals their limited capacity to manage this phenomenon and provide appropriate solutions. This paper aims to encourage local decision-makers to adopt a more forward-looking urban governance strategy, based on the strategic use of geographic information systems and a prospective approach, to promote a more sustainable and balanced urban development.