Methodology

Within the context of this project a method is being developed and tested that permits complex and highly dynamic urban agglomeration centres as megacities to be foreseeable and controllable. This method is examined by means of flow of material and resources of the reference medium water. The aim is to formulate a conclusion on the quality and quantity of the resource water and by that achieve on one hand the improvement of water supply and express on the other hand a proposal for an effective protection of the resource water in mega-urban centres.

Subdivision of the megacity in urban units with compareable characteristics

urban units

Different levels of consideration constitute a high challenge in complex aggregations of mega-urban centres. The examination of the whole area or the mostly large administrative units do not provide a differentiated image, while the complexity on the smallest level – for example single buildings, is not controllable anymore. For the understanding of the system of mega-urban centres it is hence necessary to classify the large agglomeration areas in smaller units. For that reason repetitive micro structures, such as single types of buildings and their contiguous surface broachings, will be merged into groups with respectively uniform and homogenous characteristics.

With the aid of such urban units it is possible to reduce the confusing system of a megacity to its important and significant major constituents that are characteristic for the analysis of development. The different types of city building blocks may for their ecological, economical and social specific values and respective changes act as indicator structure for the overall system of megacity. For its definition and classification structures are offered, which arise from traditional and current settlement development and which are based on growing sub units below the level of the settlement complex as a whole. In Guangzhou it is possible to easily identify such area units by means of closed settlement structures due to social patterns and political planning. These units can be put together as single room categories or city building blocks with similar ecological specific values, economic functions and social arrangements. Urban units are supposed to facilitate a better understanding of complex structures in mega-urban areas on the basis of characteristic reference areas. Thus, different types of urban units with their characteristics and dynamics can be described as basis structure of the system of megacity Guangzhou as a whole.

Classification of the urban units after different criteria and analysis of the interactions between the units

Analysis

The preselection of the area to be investigated is carried out by means of aerophotos. Through inspections at face the exact examination areas are determined.
The analysis will be realized on basis of the following parameters:

• water quality
  
• water supply and waste water disposal
  
• land use
  
• homogeneity in free space and settlement structure
  
• socio economic parameters
  
• informality
  
• external influences
  
• interaction between unit and contiguous surface broaching
  

Numerical Model

In the now started second phase of the project (since the beginning of 2009) the units will be classified, generalised and combined to an ascertained still to be determined number of units. In a further step the units (micro level) will be assigned by the help of a numerical model to the megacity as a whole (macro level).