Street-network Sprawl in Tambov, Russia

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.

Tambov: city in Russia

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 Tambov, Russia on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Tambov as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.58, which is relatively well-connected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.53, 2.6, 1.53 and 1.76. Disconnectivity in street construction in Tambov follows a zig-zag trend. In 1991-2000, street construction was most disconnected, while construction was most connected in 1976-1990.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Tambov spans a total of 482 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 1.53, 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 1.53, 1.56, 1.56 and 1.58. Disconnectivity in Tambov's street network follows a zig-zag trend. In 1975, the city was most disconnected; while it was most connected in 2001-2014.

Tambov and Tambov follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi for both of these followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.

How do development practices in Tambov fare in comparison to others in Tambov? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Tambov was the 2nd-most disconnected out of the 2 cities in Tambov. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Tambov ranked 2nd in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 2nd in 2001-2014.

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

How do development practices in Tambov fare in comparison to others in Russia? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Tambov was the 141st-most disconnected out of the 206 cities in Russia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Russia, street construction in Tambov has become more connected. Tambov ranked 112th in 1975, 89th in 1976-1990, 150th in 1991-2000 and 141st in 2001-2014.

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

To date, Tambov is the 2nd-most disconnected out of the 2 cities in Tambov. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Tambov ranked 2nd in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 2nd in 1991-2000 and 2nd in 2001-2014.

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

To date, Tambov is the 123rd-most disconnected out of the 206 cities in Russia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Russia, the street network in Tambov has become more connected. Tambov ranked 112th in 1975, 117th in 1976-1990, 120th in 1991-2000 and 123rd in 2001-2014.

As of 2015, Tambov had a built-up area of 47.58 square kilometers, and a population of 288909 people.

These are some other cities with approximately the same population: