Aerial photography image and GIS tools are one of the best, systematic, cost-effective and less time-consuming methods to analyze or detect the land cover/land use change. This study illustrates the land use land cover change detection of Addis Ababa sub-city, from 2011 to 2017; which was conducted using high-resolution aerial photography image and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies. According to the study, due to the high demanding for housing, the built-up area coverage has increased, whereas the open forest areas decreased. In order to monitor or analyses the land use/land cover change of cities or towns, the researcher recommended the need to introduce high resolution aerial photography images and GIS tools.

Keywords: land use, Land cover, change detection, Aerial Photography Image, GIS, City Expansion, urban