As-Sulaymaniyah: region in Iraq
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 As-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in As-Sulaymaniyah as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.75, which is relatively well-connected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 2.32, 1.1, 2.47 and 2.0. Disconnectivity in street construction in As-Sulaymaniyah follows a zig-zag trend. In 1976-1990, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1991-2000.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in As-Sulaymaniyah spans a total of 7197 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 2.0, which is relatively well-connected.
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 2.32, 1.32, 1.41 and 1.75. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but As-Sulaymaniyah has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in As-Sulaymaniyah followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how street development has changed in As-Sulaymaniyah, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal and Kalar. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Sulaymaniyah followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Chamchamal followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kalar followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in As-Sulaymaniyah fare in comparison to others in Iraq? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in As-Sulaymaniyah was the 16th-most disconnected out of the 18 regions in Iraq. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Iraq, street construction in As-Sulaymaniyah has become more connected. As-Sulaymaniyah ranked 9th in 1975, 17th in 1976-1990, 7th in 1991-2000 and 16th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in As-Sulaymaniyah is Baba Murda with an SNDi of 2.67, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. Conversely, the most connected city is Halabja with an SNDi of 0.15, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Halabja, Baba Murda
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in As-Sulaymaniyah was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in As-Sulaymaniyah, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Sulaymaniyah, Chamchamal and Kalar. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Sulaymaniyah rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Chamchamal followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kalar followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, As-Sulaymaniyah is the 18th-most disconnected out of the 18 regions in Iraq. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Iraq, the street network in As-Sulaymaniyah has become more connected. As-Sulaymaniyah ranked 9th in 1975, 16th in 1976-1990, 16th in 1991-2000 and 18th in 2001-2014.