Mazandaran: region in Iran
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 Mazandaran, Iran on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Mazandaran as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 6.21, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 5.79, 6.58, 8.49 and 8.82. In each period, new street development in Mazandaran steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.79 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.33.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Mazandaran spans a total of 13647 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 5.79, 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 5.79, 6.05, 6.13 and 6.21. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Mazandaran has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.26 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.08.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Mazandaran rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Mazandaran, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Sari, Babol and Amol. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Sari followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Babol peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Amol followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Mazandaran fare in comparison to others in Iran? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Mazandaran was the 1st-most disconnected out of the 31 regions in Iran. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Iran, street construction in Mazandaran has become more disconnected. Mazandaran ranked 2nd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Mazandaran is Chalus with an SNDi of 7.79, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Behshahr with an SNDi of 2.08, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Behshahr, Chalus
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Mazandaran rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Mazandaran, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Sari, Babol and Amol. Out of the three cities, Sari does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Sari followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease.
To date, Mazandaran is the 1st-most disconnected out of the 31 regions in Iran. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Iran, the street network in Mazandaran has become more disconnected. Mazandaran ranked 2nd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.