Dhi-Qar: 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 Dhi-Qar, Iraq on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Dhi-Qar as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.82, which is relatively well-connected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.75, 1.05, 1.79 and 1.85. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Dhi-Qar fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Dhi-Qar spans a total of 3283 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 1.85, 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 1.75, 1.24, 1.55 and 1.82. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Dhi-Qar has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Dhi-Qar was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Dhi-Qar, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Nasiriyah, Al-Shatrah and Al-Rifa'i. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Nasiriyah followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Al-Shatrah followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Al-Rifa'i followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Dhi-Qar fare in comparison to others in Iraq? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Dhi-Qar was the 17th-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 Dhi-Qar has become more connected. Dhi-Qar ranked 15th in 1975, 18th in 1976-1990, 14th in 1991-2000 and 17th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Dhi-Qar is Al-Rifa'i with an SNDi of 1.39, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is قضاء الجبايش with an SNDi of -0.05, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: قضاء الجبايش, Al-Rifa'i
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Dhi-Qar was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Dhi-Qar, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Nasiriyah, Al-Shatrah and Al-Rifa'i. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Nasiriyah followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Al-Shatrah followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Al-Rifa'i followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Dhi-Qar is 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, the street network in Dhi-Qar has become more connected. Dhi-Qar ranked 15th in 1975, 18th in 1976-1990, 14th in 1991-2000 and 16th in 2001-2014.