West Bahr-al-Ghazal: region in South Sudan
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 West Bahr-al-Ghazal, South Sudan on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in West Bahr-al-Ghazal as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.6, 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 -0.1, 0.07, 2.86 and 3.71. In each period, new street development in West Bahr-al-Ghazal steadily grows more disconnected than in the last.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in West Bahr-al-Ghazal spans a total of 1231 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 3.71, 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 -0.1, -0.05, 0.87 and 2.6. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in West Bahr-al-Ghazal has become more disconnected.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in West Bahr-al-Ghazal rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in West Bahr-al-Ghazal, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Wau and Raja. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Wau was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Raja followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in West Bahr-al-Ghazal fare in comparison to others in South Sudan? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in West Bahr-al-Ghazal was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in South Sudan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in South Sudan, street construction in West Bahr-al-Ghazal has become more disconnected. West Bahr-al-Ghazal ranked 7th in 1975, 9th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in West Bahr-al-Ghazal is Raja with an SNDi of 2.22, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Wau with an SNDi of 0.79, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Wau, Raja
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in West Bahr-al-Ghazal rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in West Bahr-al-Ghazal, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Wau and Raja. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Wau was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Raja followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, West Bahr-al-Ghazal is the 7th-most disconnected out of the 10 regions in South Sudan. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. West Bahr-al-Ghazal ranked 7th in 1975, 9th in 1976-1990, 9th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.