Limburg: region in Netherlands
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 Limburg, Netherlands on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Limburg as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.73, which is relatively well-connected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.26, 2.08, 2.32 and 2.73. In each period, new street development in Limburg steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.82 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.4.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Limburg spans a total of 10863 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 1.26, which is relatively 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 1.26, 1.56, 1.65 and 1.73. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Limburg has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.3 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.08.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Limburg rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Limburg, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Heerlen, Maastricht and Sittard. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Heerlen followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Maastricht peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Sittard peaked in 1976-1990.
How do development practices in Limburg fare in comparison to others in Netherlands? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Limburg was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Netherlands. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Netherlands, street construction in Limburg has become more disconnected. Limburg ranked 10th in 1975, 9th in 1976-1990, 4th in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Limburg is Sittard with an SNDi of 1.82, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Maastricht with an SNDi of 1.11, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Maastricht, Sittard
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Limburg rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Limburg, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Heerlen, Maastricht and Sittard. Out of the three cities, Maastricht and Sittard do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Maastricht peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Sittard peaked in 1991-2000.
To date, Limburg is the 9th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in Netherlands. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Netherlands, the street network in Limburg has become more disconnected. Limburg ranked 10th in 1975, 10th in 1976-1990, 10th in 1991-2000 and 9th in 2001-2014.