Algeria Arterial Road Surface and Passability Data (2020-2024)

HeiGIT produced this dataset mapping 75,300 km of Algerian arterial roads using AI analysis of PlanetScope satellite imagery from 2020 and 2024. It supplements OpenStreetMap data with predicted surface types, road widths, and a logistical passability index for motorways, trunks, and primary/secondary roads.

Use Cases

• Evaluating logistical bottlenecks for aid delivery using the Humanitarian Passability Index (HPI) scores
• Monitoring infrastructure modernization by tracking Road Surface Change from unpaved to paved between 2020 and 2024
• Planning heavy vehicle routes based on Road Width Class 1-3 thresholds

Strengths

• 89.2% surface model accuracy
• Covers 75,300 km of the Algerian road network
• Multi-temporal comparison between 2020 and 2024

Limitations

• Excludes minor and residential road classes
• AI-derived predictions are subject to classification errors compared to ground-truth surveys
• 42% of the network lacked original OSM surface tags for baseline comparison

Provenance

Source

HeiGIT (Heidelberg Institute for Geoinformation Technology)

Collection Method

AI-derived predictions from PlanetScope satellite imagery integrated with OpenStreetMap road geometries.

Time Range

2020-2024

Freshness

Imagery analysis covers 2020 and 2024; last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Algeria