Street-network Sprawl in Anzoátegui, Venezuela

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.

Anzoátegui: region in Venezuela

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 Anzoátegui, Venezuela on the sprawlmap

Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Anzoátegui as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.87, 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 2.52, nan, 4.25 and 5.07. Data was not available in 1976-1990.

Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Anzoátegui spans a total of 8821 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 2.52, 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 2.52, 2.52, 2.82 and 2.87. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Anzoátegui has become more disconnected.

The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Anzoátegui followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Anzoátegui, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Barcelona, Anaco and San José de Guanipa. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Barcelona followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Anaco followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in San José de Guanipa followed a zig-zag trend.

How do development practices in Anzoátegui fare in comparison to others in Venezuela? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Anzoátegui was the 18th-most disconnected out of the 24 regions in Venezuela. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other regions in Venezuela, street construction in Anzoátegui has become more disconnected. Anzoátegui ranked 20th in 1975, 19th in 1991-2000 and 18th in 2001-2014. There was no ranking in 1976-1990 due to unavailable data.

As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Anzoátegui is Barcelona with an SNDi of 2.96, which is in the 40th to 60th percentile of disconnectedness. Conversely, the most connected city is San José de Guanipa with an SNDi of 1.45, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: San José de Guanipa, Barcelona

The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Anzoátegui rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Anzoátegui, we can consider three of its most populous cities: Barcelona, Anaco and San José de Guanipa. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Barcelona rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Anaco rose steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in San José de Guanipa fell steadily.

To date, Anzoátegui is the 21st-most disconnected out of the 24 regions in Venezuela. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Venezuela, the street network in Anzoátegui has become more connected. Anzoátegui ranked 20th in 1975, 20th in 1976-1990, 20th in 1991-2000 and 21st in 2001-2014.