Suitability analysis for urban oasis gardens: mapping potential sites in Biskra, Algeria

Abstract

The rapid urbanisation of Biskra, a Saharan city whose environmental balance historically depended on its oasis gardens, has accelerated agricultural land loss and driven a sustained decline in vegetation cover. These changes have intensified local heat exposure and weakened ecological and cultural systems that once shaped the city’s identity. Although green infrastructure is increasingly recognised for mitigating heat stress, limited research has examined how oasis-based landscapes can be translated into spatial tools for planning decisions in arid environments. Existing studies largely document environmental change without providing operational support for planning tools in Algeria, leaving a clear gap in guidance for prioritising green infrastructure interventions. In response, this study applies a GIS-based multi-criteria analysis to develop a spatial tool for planning support. The Analytic Hierarchy Process guides the weighting of fourteen temporally and spatially relevant indicators, including land surface temperature, population density, green space availability and land-use patterns, which are integrated to assess suitability for reintroducing oasis gardens within the city’s expanding urban fabric. The framework provides a practical baseline for current planning needs and can be updated as urban conditions evolve. The analysis indicates that approximately 41% of the study area offers moderate to high potential for oasis garden reintroduction. These zones align with areas showing elevated land surface temperatures and limited vegetation cover, indicating where interventions could most effectively improve local environmental conditions. The findings offer actionable support for planning decisions in Biskra while establishing a transferable spatial approach for other arid cities facing similar pressures.