Kabul: 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 Kabul, Afghanistan on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Kabul as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.73, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 5.23, 3.41, 5.19 and 3.69. Disconnectivity in street construction in Kabul follows a zig-zag trend. In 1976-1990, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1975.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Kabul spans a total of 3001 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 3.41, which is highly disconnected.
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 5.23, 3.62, 3.71 and 3.73. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Kabul has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kabul followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Kabul, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Kabul and Injerak. Out of the two cities, Injerak does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Injerak followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Kabul fare in comparison to others in Afghanistan? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Kabul was the 14th-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 Kabul has become more disconnected. Kabul ranked 15th in 1975, 13th in 1976-1990, 8th in 1991-2000 and 14th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Kabul is Kabul with an SNDi of 3.51, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Injerak with an SNDi of 2.83, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Injerak, Kabul
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kabul was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Kabul, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Kabul and Injerak. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kabul followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Injerak followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Kabul is the 19th-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 Kabul has become more connected. Kabul ranked 15th in 1975, 19th in 1976-1990, 19th in 1991-2000 and 19th in 2001-2014.