Street-network Sprawl in Manica, Mozambique

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.

Manica: region in Mozambique

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 Manica, Mozambique on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Manica as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.77, 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 0.77, 3.25, 2.45 and 2.99. Disconnectivity in street construction in Manica follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1976-1990.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Manica spans a total of 2696 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 2.99, 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 0.77, 3.0, 2.66 and 2.77. Disconnectivity in Manica's street network follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, the region was most disconnected; while it was most connected in 1976-1990.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Manica followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Manica, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Chimoio, Catandica and Messica. Out of the three cities, Chimoio and Messica do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Chimoio rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Messica followed a zig-zag trend.

How do development practices in Manica fare in comparison to others in Mozambique? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Manica was the 6th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Mozambique. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Mozambique, street construction in Manica has become more disconnected. Manica ranked 9th in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 7th in 1991-2000 and 6th in 2001-2014.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Manica is Catandica with an SNDi of 2.03, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Messica with an SNDi of 0.3, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Messica, Catandica

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Manica followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Manica, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Chimoio, Catandica and Messica. Out of the three cities, Chimoio and Messica do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Chimoio rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Messica followed a zig-zag trend.

To date, Manica is the 5th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Mozambique. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Mozambique, the street network in Manica has become more disconnected. Manica ranked 9th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 4th in 1991-2000 and 5th in 2001-2014.