Maranhão: 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 Maranhão, Brazil on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Maranhão as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.06, 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 2.73, nan, 3.39 and 4.15. Data was not available in 1976-1990.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Maranhão spans a total of 32405 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 2.73, 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 2.73, 2.73, 2.88 and 3.06. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Maranhão has become more disconnected.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Maranhão followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Maranhão, we can consider three of its most populous cities: São Luís, Imperatriz and Caxias. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in São Luís followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Imperatriz followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Caxias followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Maranhão fare in comparison to others in Brazil? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Maranhão was the 9th-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 Maranhão has become more disconnected. Maranhão ranked 9th in 1975, 10th in 1991-2000 and 9th in 2001-2014. There was no ranking in 1976-1990 due to unavailable data.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Maranhão is São Luís with an SNDi of 2.06, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Balsas with an SNDi of 0.56, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Balsas, São Luís
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Maranhão rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Maranhão, we can consider three of its most populous cities: São Luís, Imperatriz and Caxias. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in São Luís rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Imperatriz rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Caxias rose steadily.
To date, Maranhão is the 8th-most disconnected out of the 29 regions in Brazil. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Brazil, the street network in Maranhão has become more disconnected. Maranhão ranked 9th in 1975, 8th in 1976-1990, 8th in 1991-2000 and 8th in 2001-2014.