Mega Cities

For the first time in human history, more than half the world’s population is urban. A fundamental aspect of this transformation has been the emergence of giant cities, or megacities, that present major new challenges. This book examines how issues of megacity development, urban form, sustainability, and unsustainability are conceived, how governance processes are influenced by these ideas, and how these processes have in turn influenced outcomes on the ground, in some cases in transformative ways. Through 15 in-depth case studies by prominent researchers from around the world, this book examines the major challenges facing megacities today. The studies are organized around a shared set of concerns and questions about issues of sustainability, land development, urban governance, and urban form. Some of the main questions addressed are: What are the most pressing issues of sustainability and urban form in each megacity? How are major issues of sustainability understood and framed by policymakers? Is urban form considered a significant component of sustainability issues in public debates and public policy? Who are the key actors framing urban sustainability challenges and shaping urban change? How is unsustainability, risk, or disaster imagined, and how are those concerns reflected in policy approaches? What has been achieved so far, and what challenges remain? The publication of this book is a step toward answering these and other crucial questions.

This interdisciplinary book details the economic, cultural and social background of the development of Chinese mega-cities, as well as presenting the mechanisms of governance and urban growth strategies. Therein, the main discussion centres on the cont

This book discusses existing and future global problems of physical, chemical, biological and societal origins faced by increasingly populated cities and mega-cities, and options to mitigate or eliminate them. In nine chapters, the book focuses on rehabilitation and redevelopment projects aimed at converting shantytowns/slums into well serviced neighborhoods via secure housing, clean piped water, adequate access to sanitation, and other amenities for good living conditions. Examples of rehabilitation (restore capacity, structures, efficiency) and redevelopment (redesign, rebuild, attract investment) are addressed in detail, as are the sources of major financing to support such projects and proposals. The final chapters also discuss problems faced by countries with contracting populations, and their viable solutions. The book will be of interest to academics, city planners, land-use planners, NGOs, and designers /architects specializing in urban development and redevelopment.

Oxides and acids of nitrogen play an important role in regulating atmospheric radical levels, in particular, that of the OH radical the main initiator of the degradation of chemicals in the atmosphere. A comprehensive overview on the methods used to measure nitrogen oxides and acids in the troposphere is given and difficulties and artefacts associated with the use of the techniques for measurements in urban and mega city environments is illustrated. State-of-the-art methods for the measurement of OH and HO2 radicals are reviewed and recently recognised difficulties, in particular with the measurement of HO2 radicals, are highlighted. Other contributions to the book cover our present understanding of the gas, aqueous and particulate/aerosol phase atmospheric degradation chemistry of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under NOx conditions typical of rural, urban and mega city environments. Examples of measurements of NOx and VOCs in the atmospheres of these environments are given, in particular for the megacities Cairo and Beijing, in conjunction with modelling studies which attempt to simulate the field observations using state-of-the art knowledge on the chemistry of the VOCs and radical levels.

In this book, an interdisciplinary research group of faculty members, researchers, professionals, and planners contributed to an understanding of the dynamics and dimensions of emerging challenges and risks in megacities in the rapidly changing urban environments in Asia and examined emerging resilience themes from the point of view of sustainability and public policy. The world’s urban population in 2009 was approximately 3.4 billion and Asia’s urban population was about 1.72 billion. Between 2010 and 2020, 411 million people will be added to Asian cities (60 % of the growth in the world’s urban population). By 2020, of the world’s urban population of 4.2 billion, approximately 2.2 billion will be in Asia. China and India will contribute 31.3 % of the total world urban population by 2025. Developing Asia’s projected global share of CO2 emissions for energy consumption will increase from 30 % in 2006 to 43 % by 2030. City regions serve as magnets for people, enterprise, and culture, but with urbanisation , the worst form of visible poverty becomes prominent. The Asian region, with a slum population of an estimated 505.5 million people, remains host to over half of the world’s slum population . The book provides information on a comprehensive range of environmental threats faced by the inhabitants of megacities. It also offers a wide and multidisciplinary group of case studies from rapidly growing megacities (with populations of more than 5 million) from developed and developing countries of Asia.

Three major global trends that are changing the world we live in are the mushrooming of megacities, the increasing flows of people across borders, both legally and illegally, and the world-wide web of information. This compendium of papers examines the impact of these three factors in United States, Southeast Asia and India. (Adapté du résumé de l'éditeur).

This book examines a range of issues related to the mega-city phenomenon. Part one deals with the growth of mega-cities and explores demographic issues, labour force change in the big cities of Asia, the effect of macroeconomic forces on the world city system, and the relations between technology and the city. In part two, the discussion focuses on the economic and social consequences of mega-city growth. Part three looks at the crucial issue of the management of mega-cities, taking up such issues as infrastructure financing, land and shelter needs, transportation, and environmental management. The final chapter examines priority urban management issues in developing countries and derives a research agenda for the 1990s. (Adapté du résumé de l'éditeur).