Balkh: region in Afghanistan
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View Balkh, Afghanistan on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Balkh as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.07, which is relatively well-connected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.71, 1.69, 1.7 and 2.27. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Balkh fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Balkh spans a total of 958 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 2.27, which is relatively well-connected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 1.71, 1.69, 1.7 and 2.07. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Balkh has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Balkh was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Balkh, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Mazar i sharif. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Balkh follow the same region trend.
How do development practices in Balkh fare in comparison to others in Afghanistan? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Balkh was the 16th-most disconnected out of the 25 regions in Afghanistan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Afghanistan, street construction in Balkh has become more disconnected. Balkh ranked 21st in 1975, 17th in 1976-1990, 17th in 1991-2000 and 16th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Balkh is Mazar i sharif with an SNDi of 1.48, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Mazar i sharif with an SNDi of 1.48, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Mazar i sharif, Mazar i sharif
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Balkh was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Balkh, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Mazar i sharif. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Balkh follow the same region trend.
To date, Balkh is the 22nd-most disconnected out of the 25 regions in Afghanistan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Afghanistan, the street network in Balkh has become more connected. Balkh ranked 21st in 1975, 22nd in 1976-1990, 22nd in 1991-2000 and 22nd in 2001-2014.