Mara: region in Tanzania
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 Mara, Tanzania on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Mara as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.93, 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 2.87, 2.44, 2.94 and 3.27. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Mara fell, then rose. In 1976-1990, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Mara spans a total of 878 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 1991-2000. These roads have an SNDi of 2.94, 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 2.87, 2.51, 2.78 and 2.93. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Mara has worsened in disconnectivity since 1990.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Mara was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Mara, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Musoma, Tarime and Bunda. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Musoma peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Tarime followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Bunda followed a zig-zag trend.
How do development practices in Mara fare in comparison to others in Tanzania? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Mara was the 12th-most disconnected out of the 24 regions in Tanzania. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Tanzania, street construction in Mara has become more connected. Mara ranked 6th in 1975, 14th in 1976-1990, 12th in 1991-2000 and 12th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Mara is Tarime with an SNDi of 3.74, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Bunda with an SNDi of 2.13, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: Bunda, Tarime
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Mara was at its lowest in 1976-1990. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Mara, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Musoma, Tarime and Bunda. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Musoma peaked in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Tarime followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Bunda followed a zig-zag trend.
To date, Mara is the 14th-most disconnected out of the 24 regions in Tanzania. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Tanzania, the street network in Mara has become more connected. Mara ranked 6th in 1975, 14th in 1976-1990, 15th in 1991-2000 and 14th in 2001-2014.