KwaZulu-Natal: 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 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in KwaZulu-Natal as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.4, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.03, 5.27, 6.27 and 6.28. In each period, new street development in KwaZulu-Natal steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 2.25 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.01.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in KwaZulu-Natal spans a total of 57817 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 6.28, 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 3.03, 4.91, 5.16 and 5.4. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in KwaZulu-Natal has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 1.88 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.24.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in KwaZulu-Natal rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in KwaZulu-Natal, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Durban, Edendale and Osizweni. Out of the three cities, Durban and Osizweni do not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Durban peaked in 1991-2000. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Osizweni followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in KwaZulu-Natal fare in comparison to others in South Africa? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in KwaZulu-Natal was the 1st-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 KwaZulu-Natal has become more disconnected. KwaZulu-Natal ranked 3rd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in KwaZulu-Natal is Sikhalasenkosi with an SNDi of 6.33, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Osizweni with an SNDi of 1.91, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Osizweni, Sikhalasenkosi
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in KwaZulu-Natal rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in KwaZulu-Natal, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Durban, Edendale and Osizweni. Out of the three cities, Osizweni does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Osizweni was at its lowest in 1976-1990.
To date, KwaZulu-Natal is the 1st-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 KwaZulu-Natal has become more disconnected. KwaZulu-Natal ranked 3rd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 1st in 1991-2000 and 1st in 2001-2014.