Balqa: region in Jordan
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 Balqa, Jordan on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Balqa as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.71, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.53, 3.08, 4.4 and 4.85. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Balqa fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Balqa spans a total of 3818 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 3.08, 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 3.53, 3.1, 3.44 and 3.71. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Balqa has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Balqa was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Balqa, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Al Salt. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Al Salt followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Balqa fare in comparison to others in Jordan? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Balqa was the 2nd-most disconnected out of the 8 regions in Jordan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Jordan, street construction in Balqa has become more connected. Balqa ranked 1st in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 2nd in 1991-2000 and 2nd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Balqa is Al Salt with an SNDi of 4.76, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Al Salt with an SNDi of 4.76, which is highly disconnected. See trends for these cities: Al Salt, Al Salt
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Balqa was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Balqa, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Al Salt. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Al Salt followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Balqa is the 1st-most disconnected out of the 8 regions in Jordan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Balqa ranked 1st in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 2nd in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.