Street-network Sprawl in Şanlıurfa, Turkey

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.

Şanlıurfa: city in Sanliurfa, Turkey

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 Şanlıurfa, Turkey on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Şanlıurfa as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 0.72, which is relatively well-connected.

Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 1.7, 0.57, 0.51 and 1.25. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Şanlıurfa fell, then rose. In 1991-2000, new street layouts were the most connected.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Şanlıurfa spans a total of 1077 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 0.57, which is relatively well-connected.

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 1.7, 0.6, 0.58 and 0.72. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Şanlıurfa has worsened in disconnectivity since 2000.

Şanlıurfa and Sanliurfa do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi in Şanlıurfa was at its lowest in 1991-2000, while the SNDi of street constructions in Sanliurfa was at its lowest in 1976-1990.

How do development practices in Şanlıurfa fare in comparison to others in Sanliurfa? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Şanlıurfa was the 4th-most disconnected out of the 6 cities in Sanliurfa. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Sanliurfa, street construction in Şanlıurfa has become more connected. Şanlıurfa ranked 2nd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 4th in 1991-2000 and 4th in 2001-2014.

Şanlıurfa and Turkey do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their street network constructions. The SNDi in Şanlıurfa was at its lowest in 1991-2000, while the SNDi of street constructions in Turkey rose steadily.

How do development practices in Şanlıurfa fare in comparison to others in Turkey? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Şanlıurfa was the 91st-most disconnected out of the 134 cities in Turkey. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Turkey, street construction in Şanlıurfa has become more connected. Şanlıurfa ranked 33rd in 1975, 95th in 1976-1990, 104th in 1991-2000 and 91st in 2001-2014.

Şanlıurfa and Sanliurfa do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their aggregate street networks. The SNDi in Şanlıurfa was at its lowest in 1991-2000, while the SNDi of street constructions in Sanliurfa was at its lowest in 1976-1990.

To date, Şanlıurfa is the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 6 cities in Sanliurfa. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Sanliurfa, the street network in Şanlıurfa has become more connected. Şanlıurfa ranked 2nd in 1975, 2nd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.

Şanlıurfa and Turkey do not follow the same trend in the disconnectivity of their aggregate street networks. The SNDi in Şanlıurfa was at its lowest in 1991-2000, while the SNDi of street constructions in Turkey rose steadily.

To date, Şanlıurfa is the 92nd-most disconnected out of the 134 cities in Turkey. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other cities in Turkey, the street network in Şanlıurfa has become more connected. Şanlıurfa ranked 33rd in 1975, 91st in 1976-1990, 97th in 1991-2000 and 92nd in 2001-2014.

As of 2015, Şanlıurfa had a built-up area of 18.9 square kilometers, and a population of 431505 people.

These are some other cities with approximately the same population: