Colombian cities have been growing rapidly, but local authorities are not accurately predicting how much land is needed for development. This leads to poor planning, informal settlements, and inefficient land use. The study used satellite images and census data to track urban expansion in five Colombian cities over 30 years. The findings show that local authorities are not prepared to manage urban growth effectively, resulting in a mismatch between predicted land needs and actual growth. To improve planning and development, urban planners should use real data to plan for future growth, allocate enough land for development, and provide necessary infrastructure.