Context: This paper discusses the impact of urban expansion on the environment, including its effects on biodiversity conservation. As urban areas develop, natural habitats such as forests and agricultural lands are transformed into industrial, commercial, and residential uses, which alters landscape patterns and can lead to fragmentation. Fragmentation can have negative impacts on biodiversity, such as deforestation, alteration of watercourses leading to flooding, reduced availability of food, and increased pollution. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of the urban expansion of Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) over time, and its effects on biodiversity. The idea is to capture the changes in land cover and landscape patterns in GAMA from 1991 to 2022 and predict the region’s landscape patterns for 2030. This was achieved by performing a land cover change analysis of GAMA from 1991 to 2022; capturing the evolution of landscape patterns by calculating landscape metrics; and using multiradial fractal dimension as a transition variable to model and predict the land cover and landscape pattern of GAMA for 2030. The landscape metrics revealed extensive fragmentation of the Vegetation land cover type of GAMA, indicating a negative impact on biodiversity conservation, species movements, ecosystem functioning, and long-term ecological resilience. The trends highlight the importance of considering landscape connectivity, habitat fragmentation and spatial arrangement of land cover types for assessing ecological processes and urban development impacts on the environment. Additionally, multiradial fractal dimension of built-up areas is recommended as an explanatory variable for urban growth modelling.

This study analyzes the spatial accessibility of key services in Caen, France, focusing on how different transport modes (car, bicycle, and public transit) influence access to essential services across the urban and suburban landscape. Indeed, the introduction of traffic restrictions in towns with low emission zones encourages a detailed study, on a fine spatial scale, of the differences in accessibility between different modes of transport, for different services and for different journey times. Using spatial analysis techniques, we examine accessibility patterns in relation to services such as shops, healthcare, education, and tourism, highlighting significant disparities between transport modes. The findings reveal that car travel provides the highest accessibility across all service categories, particularly for healthcare and recreational services, while bicycle and public transit accessibility is more limited, especially in peripheral areas. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) synthesizes the multimodal accessibility data, and hierarchical clustering identifies distinct patterns of accessibility using different transport modes across the city. The study further explores temporal trends in accessibility, showing how different modes perform over varying travel times. Based on these findings, we propose targeted policy interventions aimed at improving public transit, enhancing cycling infrastructure, decentralizing essential services, and promoting mixed-use urban development. Future research directions include examining socio-economic disparities, the impact of emerging mobility technologies, and the environmental implications of accessibility patterns. This research provides valuable insights for urban planners seeking to improve mobility equity and sustainability in urban areas.

Context This paper discusses the impact of urban expansion on the environment, including its effects on biodiversity conservation. As urban areas develop, natural habitats such as forests and agricultural lands are transformed into industrial, commercial, and residential uses, which alters landscape patterns and can lead to fragmentation. Fragmentation can have negative impacts on biodiversity, such as deforestation, alteration of watercourses leading to flooding, reduced availability of food, and increased pollution. Objectives To provide a comprehensive and data-driven analysis of the urban expansion of Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) over time, and its effects on biodiversity. The idea is to capture the changes in land cover and landscape patterns in GAMA from 1991 to 2022 and predict the landscape patterns for 2030. Methods We perform a land cover change analysis of GAMA from 1991 to 2022. The evolution of the landscape pattern is captured by calculating landscape metrics. Multiradial fractal dimension is used as a transition variable to model and predict the land cover and landscape pattern of GAMA for 2030. Results The landscape metrics revealed extensive fragmentation of the Vegetation land cover type of GAMA, indicating a negative impact on biodiversity conservation, species movements, ecosystem functioning, and long-term ecological resilience. Conclusion The trends highlight the importance of considering landscape connectivity, habitat fragmentation and spatial arrangement of land cover types for assessing ecological processes and urban development impacts on the environment. Additionally, multiradial fractal dimension of built-up areas is recommended as an explanatory variable for urban growth modelling.