A multi-level spatial urban pressure analysis of the Giza pyramid plateau in Egypt

Abstract

Urban sprawl has deleterious effects on natural and man-made landscapes and, therefore, on the attractiveness of visitor and tourist areas. The spread of urban land use has prompted a significant loss of biodiversity and an increasing vulnerability of fragile natural and man-made systems. A prominent example of this threat for cultural heritage is the urban pressure on the Giza pyramid complex in Cairo, Egypt. This paper analyses urban growth trends within the Greater Cairo Metropolitan Area, especially the city enclave that is encroaching on the pyramid complex. A distinction is made between macro- and micro-level spatial analysis of urban growth, focusing on the micro-level dimension, with direct consequences for the conservation of cultural heritage and architectural monuments. Clearly, if no actions are taken, the unique architectural legacy of the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure might be lost. By combining spatial land-use information with location awareness of the pyramid complex, this paper aims to shed light on the relevance of spatial analysis and urban growth models as tools to analyse the endangerment of valuable cultural heritage. This paper also suggests new directions for architectural heritage management, within the framework of micro-spatial analysis of the historico-cultural legacy in urban regions.

Keywords:

• cellular automata
• geographic information systems
• land-cover maps
• pyramid plateau
• remote sensing
• system theory

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank both peer reviewers for their useful comments on this paper.