Baja Verapaz: region in Guatemala
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 Baja Verapaz, Guatemala on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Baja Verapaz as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.35, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.83, 2.52, 7.46 and 5.18. Street construction in Baja Verapaz 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 Baja Verapaz spans a total of 768 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. 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 1.83, 2.56, 2.97 and 3.35. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Baja Verapaz has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.72 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.38.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Baja Verapaz peaked in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Baja Verapaz, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Cubulco, Salamá and Purulhá. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Cubulco followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Salamá followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Purulhá followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Baja Verapaz fare in comparison to others in Guatemala? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Baja Verapaz was the 13th-most disconnected out of the 19 regions in Guatemala. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Guatemala, street construction in Baja Verapaz has become more disconnected. Baja Verapaz ranked 14th in 1975, 16th in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 13th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Baja Verapaz is Salamá with an SNDi of 2.52, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. Conversely, the most connected city is Purulhá with an SNDi of 1.48, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Purulhá, Salamá
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Baja Verapaz rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Baja Verapaz, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Cubulco, Salamá and Purulhá. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Cubulco followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Salamá was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Purulhá followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Baja Verapaz is the 13th-most disconnected out of the 19 regions in Guatemala. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Guatemala, the street network in Baja Verapaz has become more disconnected. Baja Verapaz ranked 14th in 1975, 14th in 1976-1990, 14th in 1991-2000 and 13th in 2001-2014.