Atakora: region in Benin
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 Atakora, Benin on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Atakora as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.28, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 0.54, 1.35, 1.88 and 3.27. In each period, new street development in Atakora steadily grows more disconnected than in the last.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Atakora spans a total of 1840 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 3.27, 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 0.54, 1.21, 1.65 and 2.28. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Atakora has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.67 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.63.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Atakora rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Atakora, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Natitingou, Tanguieta and Materi. Out of the three cities, Tanguieta and Materi do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Tanguieta followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Materi followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Atakora fare in comparison to others in Benin? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Atakora was the 6th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Benin. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Benin, street construction in Atakora has become more disconnected. Atakora ranked 9th in 1975, 8th in 1976-1990, 9th in 1991-2000 and 6th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Atakora is Natitingou with an SNDi of 2.0, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Tanguieta with an SNDi of 0.5, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Tanguieta, Natitingou
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Atakora rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Atakora, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Natitingou, Tanguieta and Materi. Out of the three cities, Tanguieta and Materi do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Tanguieta followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Materi followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Atakora is the 7th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Benin. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Benin, the street network in Atakora has become more disconnected. Atakora ranked 9th in 1975, 8th in 1976-1990, 9th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.