Land use change in Africa's emerging metropolises and the relationship between transportation: The case of bamako

The lack of integration of spatial planning and transportation policies, poor land use and poor transportation planning lead to problems that affect the development of our cities. Poor land use and low population density are the cause of many urban development problems such as urban sprawl, traffic congestion, small or large transportation infrastructures that are not adapted to the needs of the city. Bamako, the capital of Mali in West Africa, is the most important city in the country and the sub-region due to its central location in the West African geography. A fast growing city, Bamako is the fastest growing city in Africa and the 6th fastest growing city in the world with a population approaching 3 million. However, this rapid growth has not been matched by the infrastructure needed to accommodate such a large population, such as roads, bridges and hospitals. Moreover, the fact that urban planning in Bamako will continue to be driven by high land consumption leading to urban sprawl, and the fact that Bamako's population will continue to grow, requires better land use planning and thinking about solutions for the rapid development of transportation infrastructure that will enable the rapid movement of people and goods. The aim of the research is to examine the integration of land use and transportation to alleviate urban sprawl and traffic challenges in Bamako, the capital of Mali, and to develop corrective strategic recommendations to ensure the sustainable development of the country. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in the study. Documentary analysis method was used to examine the development and urbanization stages of Bamako in various historical, spatial, economic and cultural dimensions. SWOT analysis was used to evaluate the land use change and management of the city. In the land use change analysis, data were obtained from LANDSAT satellite images and ARCGIS, a geographic information system software, was used to classify and evaluate the change of land classes. The time span of the research extends from the declaration of independence in 1960 until 2023. One of the most important findings of the study is that Bamako's land use change analysis from 1975 to 2023 shows an increase of approximately 943.47% in built-up area. There is a 63.99% decrease in unbuilt areas, an 86.94% decrease in vegetation and a 30.20% increase in water surfaces. The strong growth in the city's demographics proves that the city has a high level of urbanization and an increasing trend in the future. Another finding is that the city of Bamako is growing with an urban population of 2,929,373 inhabitants, 244 km2of land and 12001,564 inhabitants/km2 within the administrative boundaries. Another finding is that in 2023, the city spreads over an area of 35,477 km from west to east and 35,94011 km from north to south. Accordingly, the city is growing in a southerly direction, with low density residential development of low-rise single-family houses with a detached house housing typology. The main impacts of urban land use in Bamako are deforestation, flooding, urban traffic density and urban sprawl. Integrated land use planning is an important element of environmental management and long-term sustainability. Bamako also needs to implement integration and maximize the benefits of its transport system, providing the best opportunities for more sustainable transport, a better environment and the development of transport corridors. The development of public transport corridors with large-scale transport infrastructure facilities will help to integrate land use planning and transport. Proposals for integrated land-use planning with transport corridors have been put forward, incorporating TOD features to enable transport-led development through intelligent nodes and allowing the integration of other economic functions along the various corridors. In conclusion, we can say that we have gained a good understanding of urbanisation and the evolution of land use in Bamako, and this study has enabled us to make proposals for the proper integration of land use and transport planning.