Analysis of Informal Dynamics in Mega Urban Areas - Based on Spatial Structure and Steering Mechanisms Focused on Water in the Pearl River Delta

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Chinese cities became one of the most dynamic urban areas within last decades. By economic liberalisation in some special economic zones the mega-urban area of Pearl River Delta became one of the dynamic regions in China. Rapid economic growth and immense population pressure led to structural problems and high environmental impacts. The interdisciplinary work group, composed by three applicants joining urban geography, hydrogeology and landscape planning, provides new approaches for investigating the structures and the steering mechanisms of urban development. In order to reduce in a first step the complex processes related to the development of highly dynamic mega urban areas we take flows of the resource water and water management as an example and, secondly, subdivide the large urban agglomeration into smaller units. Within these different types of `urban cells¿ in-depth analysis of various socioeconomic, morphological and ecological structures as well as agency structures and mechanisms become feasible. The analysis of the informal influences on formal structures and the appropriate reciprocity between different urban cells and their surrounding urban spaces respectively is intended to provide further knowledge about the actual processes and adapted governance systems in the overall mega urban area.