Distrito Federal: region in Brazil
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 Distrito Federal, Brazil on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Distrito Federal as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.36, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 2.91, 3.34, 2.93 and 5.5. Disconnectivity in street construction in Distrito Federal follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 2001-2014.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Distrito Federal spans a total of 11223 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 1991-2000. These roads have an SNDi of 2.93, 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 2.91, 3.12, 3.05 and 3.36. Disconnectivity in Distrito Federal's street network follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, the region was most disconnected; while it was most connected in 2001-2014.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Distrito Federal followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Distrito Federal, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Ceilândia, Gama and Guará. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Ceilândia rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Gama was at its lowest in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Guará rose steadily.
How do development practices in Distrito Federal fare in comparison to others in Brazil? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Distrito Federal was the 4th-most disconnected out of the 29 regions in Brazil. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Brazil, street construction in Distrito Federal has become more disconnected. Distrito Federal ranked 7th in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 17th in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Distrito Federal is Brasília with an SNDi of 5.0, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Itapoã with an SNDi of 0.9, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Itapoã, Brasília
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Distrito Federal followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Distrito Federal, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Ceilândia, Gama and Guará. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Ceilândia rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Gama was at its lowest in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Guará rose steadily.
To date, Distrito Federal is the 7th-most disconnected out of the 29 regions in Brazil. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Distrito Federal ranked 7th in 1975, 5th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.