Western Australia: region in Australia
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 Western Australia, Australia on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Western Australia as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.81, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 2.99, 4.49, 4.72 and 3.92. Street construction in Western Australia increased in disconnectivity initially but has since improved. The streets constructed in 1991-2000 were the most disconnected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Western Australia spans a total of 39256 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 2.99, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness.
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 2.99, 3.58, 3.71 and 3.81. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Western Australia has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.58 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.1.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Western Australia peaked in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Western Australia, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Perth, Rockingham and Mandurah. Out of the three cities, Perth does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Perth peaked in 1976-1990.
How do development practices in Western Australia fare in comparison to others in Australia? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Western Australia was the 6th-most disconnected out of the 7 regions in Australia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Australia, street construction in Western Australia has become more connected. Western Australia ranked 4th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 6th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Western Australia is Rockingham with an SNDi of 4.61, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Perth with an SNDi of 2.83, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Perth, Rockingham
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Western Australia rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Western Australia, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Perth, Rockingham and Mandurah. Out of the three cities, Rockingham and Mandurah do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Rockingham peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Mandurah peaked in 1991-2000.
To date, Western Australia is the 4th-most disconnected out of the 7 regions in Australia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Western Australia ranked 4th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 4th in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.