Street-network Sprawl in Free State, South Africa

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.

Free State: region in South Africa

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 Free State, South Africa on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Free State as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.64, 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 1.75, 2.44, 2.88 and 3.12. In each period, new street development in Free State steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.69 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.24.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Free State spans a total of 43343 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 3.12, 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 1.75, 2.35, 2.5 and 2.64. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Free State has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.6 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.13.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Free State rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Free State, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Bloemfontein, Phuthaditjhaba and Bronville. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bloemfontein peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Phuthaditjhaba followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bronville peaked in 1991-2000.

How do development practices in Free State fare in comparison to others in South Africa? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Free State was the 7th-most disconnected out of the 9 regions in South Africa. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in South Africa, street construction in Free State has become more disconnected. Free State ranked 8th in 1975, 7th in 1976-1990, 7th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Free State is Botshabelo with an SNDi of 5.13, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Bethlehem with an SNDi of 2.05, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Bethlehem, Botshabelo

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Free State rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Free State, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Bloemfontein, Phuthaditjhaba and Bronville. Out of the three cities, Phuthaditjhaba and Bronville do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Phuthaditjhaba peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bronville peaked in 1991-2000.

To date, Free State is the 7th-most disconnected out of the 9 regions in South Africa. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in South Africa, the street network in Free State has become more disconnected. Free State ranked 8th in 1975, 7th in 1976-1990, 7th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.