Cantabria: region in Spain
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 Cantabria, Spain on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Cantabria as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.32, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 2.3, 3.68, 4.56 and 5.21. In each period, new street development in Cantabria steadily grows more disconnected than in the last. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 1.38 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.65.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Cantabria spans a total of 8234 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 3.68, 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 2.3, 3.03, 3.15 and 3.32. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Cantabria has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.74 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.16.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Cantabria rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Cantabria, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Santander and Torrelavega. Out of the two cities, Torrelavega does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Torrelavega followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease.
How do development practices in Cantabria fare in comparison to others in Spain? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Cantabria was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 18 regions in Spain. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Spain, street construction in Cantabria has become more disconnected. Cantabria ranked 4th in 1975, 4th in 1976-1990, 2nd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Cantabria is Santander with an SNDi of 1.94, which is relatively well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Torrelavega with an SNDi of 1.36, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Torrelavega, Santander
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Cantabria rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Cantabria, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Santander and Torrelavega. Out of the two cities, Torrelavega does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Torrelavega peaked in 1976-1990.
To date, Cantabria is the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 18 regions in Spain. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Spain, the street network in Cantabria has become more disconnected. Cantabria ranked 4th in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.