Street-network Sprawl in Macedonia

What is Street-network sprawl?

Street-network Sprawl is a way to measure urban sprawl, worldwide, through the connectedness of the streets. Less sprawl means more connected, more walkable streets. Well-connected streets – like New York City’s grid – are more walkable and can be served by public transit.

The street network is permanent, and its connectivity affects the livability and environmental footprint of cities for decades and centuries to come. In places with more connected streets, residents drive less and walk more. A well-connected street network is associated with better outcomes for health, the environment, sustainable consumption, social integration, and equity.

We can quantify how connected street networks are with the Street Network Disconnectedness Index (SNDi).

SNDi -- our measure of street-network sprawl (disconnectedness)

The SNDi is a comprehensive measurement of “sprawl”. It captures:

A higher SNDi means less-connected streets – i.e., more sprawl. For the 10137 cities in our dataset, the average SNDi is 2.25, with half of the cities' SNDis falling between 1.08 and 3.25.

More information on the sprawl index can be found in these research papers:

To see the state of street-network sprawl across the globe, visit the sprawlmap.

Macedonia

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 Macedonia on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Macedonia as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.14, which is highly disconnected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 4.23, 5.11, 6.49 and 7.27. In each period, new street development in Macedonia steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.88 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.78.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Macedonia spans a total of 14047 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 5.11, 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 4.23, 4.9, 5.03 and 5.14. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Macedonia has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.68 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.11.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Macedonia rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Macedonia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Gazi Baba, Kumanovo and Bitola. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Gazi Baba peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kumanovo peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bitola peaked in 1991-2000.

How do development practices in Macedonia fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Macedonia was the 6th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Macedonia has become more disconnected. Macedonia ranked 33rd in 1975, 21st in 1976-1990, 14th in 1991-2000 and 6th in 2001-2014.

The largest city in Macedonia is Skopje, with a population of 428200 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Skopje as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.64, which is highly disconnected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Skopje peaked in 1991-2000.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Macedonia is Gostivar with an SNDi of 6.07, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Prilep with an SNDi of 2.14, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Prilep, Gostivar

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Macedonia rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Macedonia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Gazi Baba, Kumanovo and Bitola. Out of the three regions, Gazi Baba and Bitola do not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Gazi Baba peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bitola peaked in 1991-2000.

To date, Macedonia is the 20th-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Macedonia has become more disconnected. Macedonia ranked 33rd in 1975, 20th in 1976-1990, 21st in 1991-2000 and 20th in 2001-2014.

The largest city in Macedonia is Skopje, with a population of 428200 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Skopje as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.64, which is highly disconnected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Skopje rose steadily.