Zarqa: 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 Zarqa, Jordan on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Zarqa as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.24, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 0.51, 2.69, 3.38 and 4.64. In each period, new street development in Zarqa steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 2.18 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 1.26.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Zarqa spans a total of 2159 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 2.69, 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 0.51, 2.68, 2.82 and 3.24. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Zarqa has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 2.17 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.42.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Zarqa rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Zarqa, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Wadi Khaw. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Wadi Khaw followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Zarqa fare in comparison to others in Jordan? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Zarqa was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 8 regions in Jordan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Jordan, street construction in Zarqa has become more disconnected. Zarqa ranked 8th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Zarqa is Wadi Khaw with an SNDi of 2.41, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. Conversely, the most connected city is Wadi Khaw with an SNDi of 2.41, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. See trends for these cities: Wadi Khaw, Wadi Khaw
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Zarqa rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Zarqa, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Wadi Khaw. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Wadi Khaw followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Zarqa is the 4th-most disconnected out of the 8 regions in Jordan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Jordan, the street network in Zarqa has become more disconnected. Zarqa ranked 8th in 1975, 6th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.