Mapping urban land use change and environmental trade-offs: a remote sensing–SWOT assessment for land policy and regulatory frameworks

Context and background Rapid urbanisation in African cities is reshaping urban land systems, creating complex environmental trade-offs with direct implications for land policy and spatial regulation. In Windhoek and Accra, urban expansion is converting natural and peri-urban land faster than planning institutions can respond. While remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) effectively maps land use change, many studies lack policy-oriented interpretation, a gap this study addresses through integrated strategic assessment. Goal and objectives This study assesses urban land use change and environmental trade-offs in Windhoek and Accra using an integrated geospatial–strategic framework. It maps and quantifies land cover change, evaluates environmental implications, and translates spatial outcomes into policy-relevant strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Methodology Using multi-temporal remote sensing and GIS, the study maps urban land use changes and assesses environmental trade-offs via a SWOT framework for land governance insights. Results The results reveal significant urban land expansion in both cities, characterised by the reduction of vegetated and open land and increasing pressure on environmentally sensitive areas. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats assessment highlights critical land policy challenges, regulatory gaps, and opportunities for improving sustainable urban land management. The findings demonstrate the value of integrating remote sensing and GIS with strategic assessment to support evidence-based land policy and geospatial planning in rapidly urbanising African cities.