Street-network Sprawl in Kâmpóng Cham, Cambodia

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.

Kâmpóng Cham: region in Cambodia

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 Kâmpóng Cham, Cambodia on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Kâmpóng Cham as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.09, which is relatively well-connected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.85, 1.08, 1.24 and 0.93. Disconnectivity in street construction in Kâmpóng Cham follows a zig-zag trend. In 2001-2014, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1975.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Kâmpóng Cham spans a total of 1525 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 1.08, which is relatively well-connected.

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 1.85, 1.12, 1.16 and 1.09. Disconnectivity in Kâmpóng Cham's street network follows a zig-zag trend. In 2001-2014, the region was most disconnected; while it was most connected in 1975.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kâmpóng Cham followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Kâmpóng Cham, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Kampong Cham. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kampong Cham peaked in 1991-2000.

How do development practices in Kâmpóng Cham fare in comparison to others in Cambodia? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Kâmpóng Cham was the 7th-most disconnected out of the 7 regions in Cambodia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Cambodia, street construction in Kâmpóng Cham has become more connected. Kâmpóng Cham ranked 5th in 1975, 6th in 1976-1990, 7th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Kâmpóng Cham is Kampong Cham with an SNDi of 0.08, which is very well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Kampong Cham with an SNDi of 0.08, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Kampong Cham, Kampong Cham

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kâmpóng Cham followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Kâmpóng Cham, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Kampong Cham. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kampong Cham peaked in 1991-2000.

To date, Kâmpóng Cham is the 6th-most disconnected out of the 7 regions in Cambodia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Cambodia, the street network in Kâmpóng Cham has become more connected. Kâmpóng Cham ranked 5th in 1975, 6th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 6th in 2001-2014.