How Egypt’s GIS-Driven Atlas Is Driving Urban Sustainability

As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of rapid urbanization, climate change, and resource scarcity, Egypt is leading the way with its innovative Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities, a comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) geoportal that enhances data-driven decision-making and supports sustainable urban development. It was launched at the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, on November 7, 2024.

The Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities was created in partnership by the Ministry of Local Development (MLD), the World Bank, and Esri through Esri North Africa. The platform’s database enables policymakers to assess the impacts of climate change, optimize service distribution, and plan projects more efficiently.

“The Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities is an essential tool to guide efforts to confront climate change and enhance the resilience of Egyptian cities to adapt to environmental risks, as well as support sustainability-conscious urban planning for a better future,” said Dr. Manal Awad, minister of local development, Egypt. The minister added that “everything starts locally, stressing that Egypt adopts urban planning that takes into account the principles of sustainability, flexibility, and participation.”

The MLD has faced challenges in gathering accurate and complete information for sustainable urban planning and development. In the past, the MLD and other government bodies used separate, paper-based methods to record and assess data on the four aspects of sustainability in Egyptian cities: environmental, urban, social, and economic.

These manual processes caused inefficiencies and inconsistencies. Without standard indicators, it was hard to conduct a thorough analysis and make informed decisions. The lack of a centralized data system made it difficult to track progress and evaluate urban development projects. Outdated and scattered data also made it hard to track trends and respond to urban challenges proactively.

To solve these challenges, the MLD and its partners came together to create a platform that helps users understand and address key environmental, social, and economic challenges while identifying development priorities. The main goals were:

• Data integration: Develop a standardized framework to collect and manage data from various sources, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Data visualization: Create intuitive and user-friendly visualizations to make the data easy to use for decision-makers.
• Data analysis: Provide analytical tools to help users gain insights and make informed decisions in areas like urban planning, climate adaptation, and service delivery.

Envisioning the geoportal was one thing; developing it was another.

The project team utilized ArcGIS Enterprise, a comprehensive GIS software, to manage, store, and process the geospatial data for the Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities. This included using tools for data management, sharing, processing, and analysis, as well as ArcGIS Image Server for handling large volumes of imagery. ArcGIS Pro, a powerful desktop GIS software, was used for advanced mapping and creating visualizations.

The geoportal provides a comprehensive database of environmental, social, and economic indicators, enabling policymakers to assess climate change impacts, optimize service distribution, and plan projects more efficiently. This approach not only enhances urban sustainability but also boosts the competitiveness of local administrations and improves residents’ quality of life.

The Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities integrates data from various sources, including official statistics, satellite imagery, and survey data. This data is transformed into interactive maps and dashboards, allowing users to explore different aspects of sustainability in Egyptian cities. The platform also offers tools for comparing data, tracking progress, and identifying areas for improvement.

The Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities geoportal, using GIS, has transformed how the MLD manages urban planning and development. By centralizing and analyzing data, the geoportal ensures accuracy and consistency, which is crucial for tracking urban development, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Decision-makers use interactive maps and dashboards to gain insights and make informed choices, making the ministry’s operations more efficient and accurate. This system helps address issues like climate change, infrastructure stress, and urban resilience, contributing to long-term sustainability.

“The Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities is a collaborative effort that strengthens national capacities and links economic, social, and environmental aspects,” said Dr. Yasmine Fouad, minister of local environment. “It highlights Egypt’s commitment to sustainable urban development and climate resilience, with a focus on governance and the balanced use of natural resources.”

The geoportal serves multiple purposes:

• Detailed analysis—It provides a comprehensive view of the economic, social, and environmental status of urban areas, helping identify challenges and guide strategic decisions.
• Environmental monitoring—It tracks environmental changes and their impacts on urban areas, supporting climate adaptation strategies.
• Development prioritization—It sets clear developmental priorities and tracks progress toward urban sustainability.
• Comparative analysis—It allows for the comparison of cities to assess urban, social, and economic sustainability trends, fostering data-driven competition and accountability among local administrations.

The geoportal has also improved collaboration by enhancing coordination between the MLD, local administrative units, other relevant ministries, and international partners like the World Bank Group. It offers interactive tools for exploring data and giving feedback, which has been crucial in developing new policies and programs and speeding up data collection, mapping, and evaluation.

“The atlas showcases Egypt’s commitment to sustainable urban development and climate resilience. This initiative builds on the Sustainable Egyptian Cities Initiative, which emphasizes collaborative governance,” said Stephane Guimber, country director for Egypt, Yemen, Djibouti, the Middle East, and North Africa at World Bank.

Looking to the future, the MLD plans to extend the geoportal to all governorates, use GIS tools to monitor and evaluate projects, track development progress, and ensure fair distribution of services. MLD staff will establish systems for project follow-up, impact evaluation, and resource management to improve efficiency and accountability.

The MLD will work with the Ministries of Housing, Environment, and Planning to regularly update the data. MLD staff also plan to partner with development agencies like the World Bank to replicate successful climate adaptation efforts in other regions and support local climate-change mitigation strategies. Overall, the Atlas of Sustainable Egyptian Cities is a vital tool for sustainable urban planning and development, enhancing governance and the balanced use of natural resources.