Street-network Sprawl in Colombia

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.

Colombia

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 Colombia on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Colombia as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.89, 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 2.52, 1.75, 4.31 and 4.84. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Colombia fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Colombia spans a total of 135956 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 2.52, 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 2.52, 2.52, 2.7 and 2.89. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Colombia has become more disconnected.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Colombia was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Colombia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Cundinamarca, Antioquia and Valle del Cauca. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Cundinamarca followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Antioquia followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Valle del Cauca followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.

How do development practices in Colombia fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Colombia was the 57th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Colombia has become more disconnected. Colombia ranked 89th in 1975, 133rd in 1976-1990, 68th in 1991-2000 and 57th in 2001-2014.

The largest city in Colombia is Bogota, with a population of 8608800 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Bogota as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.43, which is relatively well-connected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bogota followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Colombia is San Vicente del Caguán with an SNDi of 7.08, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Manaure with an SNDi of -0.87, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Manaure, San Vicente del Caguán

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Colombia rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Colombia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Cundinamarca, Antioquia and Valle del Cauca. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Cundinamarca rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Antioquia rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Valle del Cauca rose steadily.

To date, Colombia is the 102nd-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Colombia has become more connected. Colombia ranked 89th in 1975, 106th in 1976-1990, 104th in 1991-2000 and 102nd in 2001-2014.

The largest city in Colombia is Bogota, with a population of 8608800 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Bogota as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.43, which is relatively well-connected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bogota rose steadily.