The impact of urban expansion on landscape case of the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district, Marrakech

Abstract Marrakech has experienced a great urban dynamic since the time of the French protectorate, gradually transitioning from a compact city to a fragmented city. In this context, a douar emerged outside the ramparts around the mausoleum of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali, near the Bab Ghmat gate, which will constitute the first nucleus of a neighborhood subject to different models of urbanization (informal and formal), as well as restructuring before becoming a large district. The aim of this research article is to study urban expansion in the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district, measuring its extent and impact on building density (built and unbuilt space), vegetated area and the urban landscape of the study area. This research is based on bibliographic work, historical method, and descriptive analytical method, along with the use of remote sensing techniques through the analysis of Landsat satellite images. The results show a considerable increase in built-up area accompanied by a decrease in vegetated area. It appears that urban expansion is moving towards the south, after the north has experienced complete concentration and saturation. The urban landscape has become heterogeneous and contradictory, revealing evident architectural and urban disparities.