Urbanization and Urban Sprawl Issues in The City Structure of Tripoli The Capital of Libya

Abstract

Urbanization is a global phenomenon it's one of the most influence human activities over the world both today and by future generations, impacting the elements of quality of urban life and its sustainable development performance. Urbanization in the developing and emerging world, particularly in Africa is appearing at an extraordinary rate and it threatens the attainment of the goals of sustainable development. Urban sprawl has led to unsustainable rapid urban expansion patterns from socio-economic and environmental issues. This original study examines the Driving Forces (hereafter referred to as DFs) and circumstances of the rapid urbanization process, discussing the main reasons and impacts of the urban explosion, serious damage environment, city patterns, and demographic transformation. The main concern of this paper therefore was to determine how urbanization and urban sprawl issues have direct or indirect impacts on the structure and lifestyle of the city of Tripoli Libya. The implications of this urbanization challenge in many developing countries are diverse socio-economic, cultural, and environmental issues. To address this aim, a qualitative approach is used through in-depth face-to-face interviews with the local authority, ordinary people, planning and agricultural experts, and university professors as well as decision-makers. A mixed-method approach was adopted for the analysis of archival documents to present different opportunities for obtaining as much information as possible on urban growth. The findings and discussion indicate the ineffectiveness and/ or non-implementation of planning strategies, political conflict, and economic prosperity that are rising with the rapid urbanization process. The study finds that the majority of developing world cities are in urgent need of practical policy and strategic urban development plans that could address and control the uncontrolled growth of urban settlements and unplanned urban expansion.