Published in 1999. Analyzing and chronicling the continued development of key information, communication and fast transport networks at a global and regional level, this book looks at the transition to an information-based economy, and its urban impacts, at a global, regional and city level. The book outlines the change by defining it as the third great societal transition in the history of human settlement, and points to key factors that have fuelled progress. These include the growth of global telecommunications and fast transport networks; the coming together of information and communication technologies and their links to transport and land use; the shift to information and knowledge as a resource base for new industries; the increasing movement of people and information; the emergence of cities as economic entities, network nodes, and centres for generating, exchanging and processing information, and, most significantly, the competition among cities for these new key elements of of the urban economy.

China's cities are subject to dramatic changes. Cities develop into Megacities, economic growth as well as the drastic increase of traffic contribute to a profound transformation of urban infrastructure. However, the processes are more visible than the stakeholders supporting such transformations. What are the location factors, spatial principles and planning philosophies that direct the cities' growth and reconstruction? The articles of this anthology investigate the above mentioned questions. Using various case studies, they analyse processes of location choice and transformation in Chinese coastal Megacities and in inland areas; they explore urban governance processes and - vice versa - also include the planning concepts of rural areas.

This book analyzes the recent growth of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Fuzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Hong Kong, seven major Chinese coastal cities. The authors detail theoretical mechanisms, spatial and non-spatial models of development, all while exploring possible directions to sustainability. They also look at how these cities have developed over the last 30 years, from the late 1970s to the 21st century. Each has its own unique background, regional and national positions, advantages, and functions. Using diversified approaches and measurements for each city, the authors argue that structural changes are necessary to achieve much needed sustainable development. The book covers developmental issues such as the regaining of central city and global city statuses, the role of governments in steering development, and achieving goals through mega projects, urban competitiveness, positioning, and branding. Including varied assessment and intense suggestions for structural changes, this book addresses core concerns for the sustainable growth of these metropolises. A valuable book for students, researchers and policy makers.

This book sheds light on Sir Peter Hall’s visions and contributions as recalled by experts. Specialists from the fields of transport and geography testify to Sir Peter Hall’s enormous impact on urban planning, urban geography, and transport geography, and The IGU Commission on Transport and Geography together with the IGU Urban Commission would like to commemorate this. After an Introduction by Richard Knowles and Celine Rozenblat, Peter Taylor presents his high-level contribution "Polymath in City Studies," and Jonathan Reades presents Sir Peter Hall's views on "Location and Innovation." This is followed by "An Innovator of Enhancing Transport and Urban Development Relationships" by Chia-Lin Chen. Kathy Pain explains their common work on "The Mega City Regions," while Michael Batty recalls how they collaborated on "World Cities and Information Cities." Celine Rozenblat and Dan O’Donoghue welcome "The Visionary for World and European cities".

A new 21st century urban phenomenon is emerging: the networked polycentric mega-city region. Developed around one or more cities of global status, it is characterized by a cluster of cities and towns, physically separate but intensively networked in a complex spatial division of labour. This book describes and analyses eight such regions in North West Europe. For the first time, this work shows how businesses interrelate and communicate in geographical space - within each region, between them, and with the wider world. It goes on to demonstrate the profound consequences for spatial planning and regional development in Europe - and, by implication, other similar urban regions of the world. The Polycentric Metropolis introduces the concept of a mega-city region, analyses its characteristics, examines the issues surrounding regional identities, and discusses policy ramifications and outcomes for infrastructure, transport systems and regulation. Packed with high quality maps, case study data and written in a clear style by highly experienced authors, this will be an insightful and significant analysis suitable for professionals in urban planning and policy, environmental consultancies, business and investment communities, technical libraries, and students in urban studies, geography, economics and town/spatial planning.

This book examines the plans for sixteen important capital cities around the world, each with its own fully illustrated chapter written by an expert on the urban development of that city

This book argues that close and disciplined scrutiny of the Asian megacity regions is of critical importance to understanding Asian urbanization. However, any approach to studying these regions must adopt a multi-dimensional and trans-urban perspective; otherwise, we Without such an approach, we cannot truly make meaningful decisions about growth management and sustainable development for such regions. Amidst the sweeping demographic and structural shifts produced by global urbanization, Asian urbanization has a fascinating and prominent role. Asian urbanization is heterogeneous, and more accurately constitutes “phenomena” than a “phenomenon.” However, despite this diversity, there are certain common features that we can identify. One of them is the Asian “megacity region”— the administrative and/or delineated territory of mixed urban-rural landscape surrounding a giant metropolis. The purpose of this book is to: Understand the main features of 21st century urbanization Note the limitations of current approaches (e.g. disparate scales, city-centric views, inadequate data sets) Articulate a pragmatically framed three-pronged approach (scale-based, trans-urban, multi-dimensional) Demonstrate the application of such an approach with a case study of one of the most important megacity regions in South Asia, the Delhi National Capital Region, underscoring the methodological requirements of such an approach Discuss the next steps for the field as a whole: questions to be raised and directions to be explored for further study. This timely, conceptual and empirical book will appeal to students of urbanization, architects involved in urban policy and planning, and researchers alike.