Grand Est: region in France
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 Grand Est, France on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Grand Est as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.86, 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 2.34, 3.33, 3.62 and 4.07. In each period, new street development in Grand Est steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.99 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.45.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Grand Est spans a total of 114910 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 3.33, 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 2.34, 2.76, 2.8 and 2.86. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Grand Est has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.42 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.06.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Grand Est rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Grand Est, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Strasbourg, Nancy and Reims. Out of the three cities, Strasbourg does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Strasbourg followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Grand Est fare in comparison to others in France? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Grand Est was the 13th-most disconnected out of the 20 regions in France. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Grand Est ranked 13th in 1975, 8th in 1976-1990, 11th in 1991-2000 and 13th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Grand Est is Thionville with an SNDi of 2.75, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. Conversely, the most connected city is Colmar with an SNDi of 1.19, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Colmar, Thionville
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Grand Est rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Grand Est, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Strasbourg, Nancy and Reims. Out of the three cities, Strasbourg does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Strasbourg followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
To date, Grand Est is the 14th-most disconnected out of the 20 regions in France. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in France, the street network in Grand Est has become more connected. Grand Est ranked 13th in 1975, 13th in 1976-1990, 13th in 1991-2000 and 14th in 2001-2014.