Street-network Sprawl in Médéa, 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.

Médéa: 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 Médéa, Algeria on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Médéa as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.35, which is highly disconnected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 7.72, 3.79, 3.58 and 4.95. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Médéa fell, then rose. In 1991-2000, new street layouts were the most connected.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Médéa spans a total of 4721 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 3.79, 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 7.72, 4.36, 4.19 and 4.35. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Médéa has worsened in disconnectivity since 2000.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Médéa was at its lowest in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Médéa, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Medea, Ksar El Boukhari and Berrouaghia. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Medea followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Ksar El Boukhari peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Berrouaghia followed a zig-zag trend.

How do development practices in Médéa fare in comparison to others in Algeria? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Médéa was the 7th-most disconnected out of the 46 regions in Algeria. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Algeria, street construction in Médéa has become more connected. Médéa ranked 1st in 1975, 8th in 1976-1990, 14th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Médéa is Medea with an SNDi of 6.13, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Berrouaghia with an SNDi of 2.31, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Berrouaghia, Medea

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Médéa was at its lowest in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Médéa, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Medea, Ksar El Boukhari and Berrouaghia. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Medea was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Ksar El Boukhari peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Berrouaghia followed a zig-zag trend.

To date, Médéa is the 3rd-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 Médéa has become more connected. Médéa ranked 1st in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.