Alaska: region in United States
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 Alaska, United States on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Alaska as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 4.93, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.41, 4.81, 6.5 and 6.18. Street construction in Alaska increased in disconnectivity initially but has since improved. The streets constructed in 1991-2000 were the most disconnected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Alaska spans a total of 4144 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 1976-1990. These roads have an SNDi of 4.81, 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 3.41, 4.29, 4.6 and 4.93. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Alaska has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.88 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.33.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Alaska peaked in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Alaska, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Anchorage. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Anchorage peaked in 1976-1990.
How do development practices in Alaska fare in comparison to others in United States? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Alaska was the 15th-most disconnected out of the 46 regions in United States. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in United States, street construction in Alaska has become more connected. Alaska ranked 14th in 1975, 20th in 1976-1990, 15th in 1991-2000 and 15th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Alaska is Anchorage with an SNDi of 3.6, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Anchorage with an SNDi of 3.6, which is highly disconnected. See trends for these cities: Anchorage, Anchorage
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Alaska rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Alaska, we can consider one of its most populous cities: Anchorage. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Anchorage peaked in 1976-1990.
To date, Alaska is the 8th-most disconnected out of the 46 regions in United States. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in United States, the street network in Alaska has become more disconnected. Alaska ranked 14th in 1975, 9th in 1976-1990, 9th in 1991-2000 and 8th in 2001-2014.