Street-network Sprawl in Guamúchil, Mexico

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.

Guamúchil: city in Sinaloa, Mexico

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 Guamúchil, Mexico on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Guamúchil as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 0.39, which is very well-connected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 0.1, 0.36, 0.18 and 1.5. Disconnectivity in street construction in Guamúchil follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 2001-2014.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Guamúchil spans a total of 302 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 0.36, which is very 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 0.1, 0.24, 0.23 and 0.39. Disconnectivity in Guamúchil's street network follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, the city was most disconnected; while it was most connected in 2001-2014.

Guamúchil and Sinaloa do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi in Guamúchil followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase, while the SNDi of street constructions in Sinaloa rose steadily.

How do development practices in Guamúchil fare in comparison to others in Sinaloa? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Guamúchil was the 4th-most disconnected out of the 5 cities in Sinaloa. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other cities in Sinaloa, street construction in Guamúchil has become more disconnected. Guamúchil ranked 5th in 1975, 5th in 1976-1990, 5th in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.

Guamúchil and Mexico do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi in Guamúchil followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase, while the SNDi of street constructions in Mexico rose steadily.

How do development practices in Guamúchil fare in comparison to others in Mexico? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Guamúchil was the 150th-most disconnected out of the 166 cities in Mexico. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Mexico, street construction in Guamúchil has become more connected. Guamúchil ranked 124th in 1975, 153rd in 1976-1990, 161st in 1991-2000 and 150th in 2001-2014.

Guamúchil and Sinaloa do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their aggregate street networks. The SNDi in Guamúchil followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase, while the SNDi of street constructions in Sinaloa rose steadily.

To date, Guamúchil is the 5th-most disconnected out of the 5 cities in Sinaloa. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Guamúchil ranked 5th in 1975, 5th in 1976-1990, 5th in 1991-2000 and 5th in 2001-2014.

Guamúchil and Mexico do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their aggregate street networks. The SNDi in Guamúchil followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase, while the SNDi of street constructions in Mexico rose steadily.

To date, Guamúchil is the 158th-most disconnected out of the 166 cities in Mexico. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Mexico, the street network in Guamúchil has become more connected. Guamúchil ranked 124th in 1975, 153rd in 1976-1990, 157th in 1991-2000 and 158th in 2001-2014.

As of 2015, Guamúchil had a built-up area of 6.39 square kilometers, and a population of 61923 people.

These are some other cities with approximately the same population: