Pulau Pinang: region in Malaysia
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 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Pulau Pinang as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.86, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 4.34, 5.26, 4.93 and 4.9. Street construction in Pulau Pinang increased in disconnectivity initially but has since improved. The streets constructed in 1976-1990 were the most disconnected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Pulau Pinang spans a total of 5222 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 5.26, 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 4.34, 4.88, 4.87 and 4.86. The aggregate street network in Pulau Pinang increased in disconnectivity initially,but the trend has turned around after 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Pulau Pinang peaked in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Pulau Pinang, we can consider two of its most populous cities: George Town and Bukit Mertajam. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in George Town followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bukit Mertajam followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Pulau Pinang fare in comparison to others in Malaysia? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Pulau Pinang was the 11th-most disconnected out of the 13 regions in Malaysia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Malaysia, street construction in Pulau Pinang has become more connected. Pulau Pinang ranked 7th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 9th in 1991-2000 and 11th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Pulau Pinang is Bukit Mertajam with an SNDi of 4.77, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is George Town with an SNDi of 4.75, which is highly disconnected. See trends for these cities: George Town, Bukit Mertajam
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Pulau Pinang peaked in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Pulau Pinang, we can consider two of its most populous cities: George Town and Bukit Mertajam. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in George Town peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bukit Mertajam followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
To date, Pulau Pinang is the 4th-most disconnected out of the 13 regions in Malaysia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Malaysia, the street network in Pulau Pinang has become more disconnected. Pulau Pinang ranked 7th in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.