Street-network Sprawl in Bordj Bou Arréridj, Algeria

What is Street-network sprawl?

Street-network Sprawl is a way to measure urban sprawl, worldwide, through the connectedness of the streets. Less sprawl means more connected, more walkable streets. Well-connected streets – like New York City’s grid – are more walkable and can be served by public transit.

The street network is permanent, and its connectivity affects the livability and environmental footprint of cities for decades and centuries to come. In places with more connected streets, residents drive less and walk more. A well-connected street network is associated with better outcomes for health, the environment, sustainable consumption, social integration, and equity.

We can quantify how connected street networks are with the Street Network Disconnectedness Index (SNDi).

SNDi -- our measure of street-network sprawl (disconnectedness)

The SNDi is a comprehensive measurement of “sprawl”. It captures:

A higher SNDi means less-connected streets – i.e., more sprawl. For the 10137 cities in our dataset, the average SNDi is 2.25, with half of the cities' SNDis falling between 1.08 and 3.25.

More information on the sprawl index can be found in these research papers:

To see the state of street-network sprawl across the globe, visit the sprawlmap.

Bordj Bou Arréridj: region in Algeria

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 Bordj Bou Arréridj, Algeria on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Bordj Bou Arréridj as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.53, which is relatively well-connected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.78, 1.47, 1.67 and 2.1. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Bordj Bou Arréridj fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Bordj Bou Arréridj spans a total of 3748 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 1.47, 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 1.78, 1.49, 1.52 and 1.53. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Bordj Bou Arréridj has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bordj Bou Arréridj was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Bordj Bou Arréridj, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Bordj Bou Arreridjj and Ras El Oued. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bordj Bou Arreridjj followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Ras El Oued rose steadily.

How do development practices in Bordj Bou Arréridj fare in comparison to others in Algeria? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Bordj Bou Arréridj was the 29th-most disconnected out of the 46 regions in Algeria. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Bordj Bou Arréridj ranked 29th in 1975, 30th in 1976-1990, 33rd in 1991-2000 and 29th in 2001-2014.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Bordj Bou Arréridj is Bordj Bou Arreridjj with an SNDi of 0.75, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Ras El Oued with an SNDi of -0.14, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Ras El Oued, Bordj Bou Arreridjj

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bordj Bou Arréridj was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Bordj Bou Arréridj, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Bordj Bou Arreridjj and Ras El Oued. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bordj Bou Arreridjj followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Ras El Oued rose steadily.

To date, Bordj Bou Arréridj is the 30th-most disconnected out of the 46 regions in Algeria. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Algeria, the street network in Bordj Bou Arréridj has become more connected. Bordj Bou Arréridj ranked 29th in 1975, 31st in 1976-1990, 30th in 1991-2000 and 30th in 2001-2014.