Volta: region in Ghana
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 Volta, Ghana on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Volta as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.77, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.82, 4.39, 6.58 and 5.26. Street construction in Volta increased in disconnectivity initially but has since improved. The streets constructed in 1991-2000 were the most disconnected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Volta spans a total of 6056 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 5.26, 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 3.82, 4.06, 4.45 and 4.77. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Volta has become more disconnected.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Volta peaked in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Volta, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Ho, Hohoe and Dambai. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Ho followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Hohoe rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Dambai followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Volta fare in comparison to others in Ghana? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Volta was the 5th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Ghana. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Ghana, street construction in Volta has become more connected. Volta ranked 4th in 1975, 5th in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 5th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Volta is Hohoe with an SNDi of 5.75, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Akatsi with an SNDi of 1.62, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Akatsi, Hohoe
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Volta rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Volta, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Ho, Hohoe and Dambai. Out of the three cities, Ho and Dambai do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Ho followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Dambai followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Volta is the 5th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Ghana. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Ghana, the street network in Volta has become more connected. Volta ranked 4th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 5th in 1991-2000 and 5th in 2001-2014.