Littoral: region in Cameroon
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 Littoral, Cameroon on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Littoral as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.68, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.58, 4.46, 6.11 and 6.2. In each period, new street development in Littoral steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.87 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.09.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Littoral spans a total of 7134 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 3.58, 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 3.58, 3.99, 4.33 and 4.68. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Littoral has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.41 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.35.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Littoral rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Littoral, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Douala, Edéa and Nkongsamba. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Douala followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Edéa peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Nkongsamba peaked in 1991-2000.
How do development practices in Littoral fare in comparison to others in Cameroon? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Littoral was the 2nd-most disconnected out of the 11 regions in Cameroon. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Cameroon, street construction in Littoral has become more disconnected. Littoral ranked 3rd in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 2nd in 1991-2000 and 2nd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Littoral is Edéa with an SNDi of 4.13, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Nkongsamba with an SNDi of 2.45, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Nkongsamba, Edéa
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Littoral rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Littoral, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Douala, Edéa and Nkongsamba. Out of the three cities, Douala and Edéa do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Douala was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Edéa peaked in 1991-2000.
To date, Littoral is the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 11 regions in Cameroon. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Littoral ranked 3rd in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.