Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology of the RWTH Aachen University

Monthly Archives: June 2011

Indian Megacities – Mumbai and the Growth of “Neo Towns”

Jasmin Mohr| Urbanisation and Water | June 25, 2011 1
High-rise apartment buildings of a neo town near Mumbai

For my research about Megacities in India I must at least have visited Mumbai. Formerly known as Bombay, it is ultimately the biggest city of India right before Delhi. At the same time it is one of the most populous Asian urban agglomerations and among the 10 biggest of the world. I prepared myself with the thesis of Peter Gotsch, a German urban planner and experience scientist. This publication covers the theme „Neo Towns“, hence it was especially suitable regarding the examination of the New Middle Class. Read more »

Urban Development of Bhubaneswar

Hannes Bartl| Research Area,Urbanisation and Water | June 24, 2011 1
Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar is the capital city of the state of Orissa, which is situated in the east of India. The city lies within the district of Khurda, which features the highest degree of urbanization in Orissa, the highest population density and a population growth rate of nearly 25 % between 2001 and 2011 (according to provisional 2011 Census data). Bhubaneswar is the economic as well as the educational centre of the state. Until the Indian independence in 1948 the city was only of religious importance. The rapid development since then gives evidence of how political will can affect regional and urban development. Read more »

Water and Informality in Guangzhou

Britta Bockhorn| Research Area,Urbanisation and Water | June 17, 2011
Informal waste disposal side on the roadside of an urban village

The megacity Guangzhou is located in the region of the Pearl River Delta, one of Chinas most important economic agglomerations.The political and economical opening in 1978 led and is still leading to large migration streams to Guangzhou from all over China. Within a period of 30 years Guangzhou has grown from a rural place to a modern city with high rise buildings and almost 11 million inhabitants (Wehrhahn et al. 2008). Read more »

Urbanisation in China and the Effects on Water Resources – The Example Guangzhou

Klaus Baier| Research Area,Urbanisation and Water | June 17, 2011
New City Axis of Guangzhou (Photo R. Stohschön)

In China urbanization developed quite late in international comparison due to the household registration system which made migration into cities difficult until the state opened politically and economically in 1978. Since 1978, Chinese megacities as well as smaller urban centers have been subject to far-reaching changes due to economic reforms and the accompanying economic opening. Urban areas like Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Dongguan in the south Chinese Pearl Rvier Delta (PRD) grew from small cities into giant megacities within a short time. Read more »

Water supply of squatter areas in Hyderabad

Dorothee Uerschels| Urbanisation and Water | June 8, 2011
A public tap in Hyderabad

Squatter and slum areas are still very poor connected to a functional supply system. The lack of a water supply system is one of the major problems for the dwellers. Very often, the drinking water is scarce; this is why they have to consume water which quality is insufficient. There are different types of water supply in squatter areas in Hyderabad; some of them are introduced hereby. Read more »