Sofala: 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 Sofala, Mozambique on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Sofala as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.58, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 4.81, 3.27, 3.1 and 3.56. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Sofala fell, then rose. In 1991-2000, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Sofala spans a total of 3014 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 3.56, 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 4.81, 3.52, 3.37 and 3.58. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Sofala has worsened in disconnectivity since 2000.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Sofala was at its lowest in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Sofala, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Beira, Nhamatanda and Manga. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Beira was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Nhamatanda followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Manga followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Sofala fare in comparison to others in Mozambique? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Sofala was the 4th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Mozambique. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Mozambique, street construction in Sofala has become more connected. Sofala ranked 1st in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 4th in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Sofala is Dondo with an SNDi of 3.63, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Gorongosa with an SNDi of -2.37, which is very well-connected. See trends for these cities: Gorongosa, Dondo
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Sofala was at its lowest in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Sofala, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Beira, Nhamatanda and Manga. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Beira was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Nhamatanda followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Manga followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
To date, Sofala is the 1st-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Mozambique. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Sofala ranked 1st in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.