Kapolowe in context: Street-network sprawl trends

The chart above shows SNDi trends for new street additions (left panel) and the entire network (right panel), with Kapolowe plotted against Haut-Katanga and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The SNDi of new construction in Kapolowe followed a zig-zag trend, compared to Haut-Katanga which peaked in 1976-1990 and Democratic Republic of the Congo which followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. In terms of the aggregate network, Kapolowe ranked 1st out of 17 cities in Haut-Katanga and 5th out of 186 in Democratic Republic of the Congo as of 2020.

Rankings go from most connected to most disconnected — rank 1 is the most connected.

What about similarly populated cities?

• Huaquillas, Ecuador
• Njeru, Uganda
• Cabiao, Philippines
• Upenekang, Nigeria
• Qarabāg, Afghanistan
• Illela, Niger

While Huaquillas and Upenekang both fluctuated in its street-construction patterns, Kapolowe fluctuated in its street-construction patterns in new street additions. For the full network, Kapolowe fluctuated in connectivity, while Huaquillas grew more disconnected from 1975 through 1976-1990, then improved and Upenekang fluctuated in connectivity. Kapolowe and Huaquillas have been growing further apart in their street-network character since 1975.