Al Quassim: region in Saudi Arabia
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 Al Quassim, Saudi Arabia on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Al Quassim as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 1.6, which is relatively well-connected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.68, 1.33, 1.79 and 1.95. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Al Quassim fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Al Quassim spans a total of 8005 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 1.33, 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 1.68, 1.38, 1.5 and 1.6. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Al Quassim has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Al Quassim was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Al Quassim, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Unaizah, Buraydah and دخنة. Out of the three cities, Buraydah and دخنة do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Buraydah was at its lowest in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in دخنة followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease.
How do development practices in Al Quassim fare in comparison to others in Saudi Arabia? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Al Quassim was the 12th-most disconnected out of the 12 regions in Saudi Arabia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Saudi Arabia, street construction in Al Quassim has become more connected. Al Quassim ranked 9th in 1975, 12th in 1976-1990, 11th in 1991-2000 and 12th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Al Quassim is Unaizah with an SNDi of 1.67, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is البدائع with an SNDi of 0.94, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: البدائع, Unaizah
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Al Quassim was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Al Quassim, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Unaizah, Buraydah and دخنة. Out of the three cities, Buraydah and دخنة do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Buraydah fell steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in دخنة fell steadily.
To date, Al Quassim is the 12th-most disconnected out of the 12 regions in Saudi Arabia. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Saudi Arabia, the street network in Al Quassim has become more connected. Al Quassim ranked 9th in 1975, 12th in 1976-1990, 12th in 1991-2000 and 12th in 2001-2014.