Urban Growth Analytics for Addis Ababa

A core aim of the Urban Growth Analytics for Addis Ababa is the creation of a Spatial Compendium to document and visually represent the most dominant urban typologies in Addis Ababa, offering a mapping and illustration-based resource that introduces Addis Ababa’s spatial configuration and physical make-up.

This will include three sections. The first section covers city-wide overviews with a series of maps, and other data. The second, introduces the city-wide typology map highlighting most distinctive building typologies (residential or function related) and some of their key characteristics. The third and last section, details more localised urban forms at a scale of 500 by 500 meters. Four sample areas have been chosen that contain some of the most prominent residential building typologies from across the city.

This research is based on a mixed methods approach with a focus on spatial analysis and visualisation techniques. Building on data collected during site visits and google maps visual building type detection, it involved the identification of the most distinctive building typologies in Addis Ababa and classification of the city buildings with these typologies. More than a million buildings were classified to create a city morphological map of Addis Ababa.

This project included the collaboration of local researchers and experts.