TRACK 1: Limitless cities and urban futures
congress team: Peter Newman, Australia & Luo Wenjing, China
TOPICS |
Reasons why megacities and city regions are growing and leading planetary urbanisation Global influence and competitiveness: the role of megacities Megacities as leaders in low impact energy, food, and resources consumption Linkages, relationships, disparities, synergies and connections: opportunities for the whole and its parts Prospects, visions, futures, predictions, forecasts and scenarios for megacities in the future |
Through holistic exploration, this track will provide an opportunity to discuss why megacities are emerging, how they are influencing the world (positively and otherwise) and how planners can think ahead about their future. Megacities and city-regions are challenging the notion of the traditional city and even the metropolis. Larger and more powerful than countries, they become global nodes of migration, trade, knowledge exchange and innovation that seem to be limitless. Are megacities unstoppable and the fastest way to a prosperous future?
The track also explores the needs and impacts of megacities, from infrastructure to food and waste, and the range of strategies needed, imagined or already being explored, to make them lead the way towards efficiencies of scale and innovative resource management. Are they part of a global interconnected network that can lead planetary change or a threat to life on Earth?
How best to plan for an efficient, liveable and regenerative megacity? What lessons can already be learned from the leaders in this journey?
Sessions:
Session 1.1 Understanding Megacities: Scales (1/2)
How can one understand the growth of megacities? Are megacities limitless? This session discusses the scales of megacities as well as the method of controlling the growth boundary of megacities.
Session 1.2 Understanding Megacities: Linkages and Structures (1/2)
How can one understand megacities as a whole and as individual parts? This session explores the structures of megacities including linkages, relationships, disparities, synergies and connections.
Session 1.3 Understanding of Megacities: Scales (2/2)
How can one understand the growth of megacities? Are megacities limitless? This session discusses the scales of megacities as well as the method of controlling the growth boundary of megacities.
Session 1.4 Understanding Megacities: Linkages and Structures (2/2)
How can one understand megacities as a whole and as individual parts? This session explores the structures of megacities including linkages, relationships, disparities, synergies and connections.
Session 1.5 (Special Session) How to Plan Ahead: Wuhan Metropolis Experiences
This session specifically focuses on Chinese megacity planning using the case study of Wuhan, located in Central China. With a population of more than 11 million and an area of more than 8,000 square kilometres, it aims to become a sustainable, efficient and liveable megacity.
Session 1.6 Planning for Megacities: Sustainability
How can one plan for a sustainable megacity? This session focuses on resource consumption, resource utilisation, and environmental preservation in planning strategies of megacities.
Session 1.7 Planning for Megacities: Efficiency
How can one plan for an efficient megacity? This session focuses on improving the efficiency of megacities, especially in the areas of transit-oriented development, smart cities and the like.