Urbanized deltas in transition

Urbanized deltas are highly complex systems. They are the most densely urbanized and industrialized areas in the world; at the same time they face many threats from climate change, being extremely vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and silting up of ports. At the beginning of the 21st century, most of the world's urban deltas face a 'critical transition', in response to increasing imbalances. Climate changes and societal developments lead to conflicting land use claims, with space for water on the one hand and urbanization, industry and agriculture on the other. In order to survive in the long term, urban deltas need to be approached from new perspectives, as adaptive systems. Urbanized Deltas in Transition compares eight international urban deltas. Exploiting the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and employing high-quality global datasets, it studies the mutual relations among different components in a series of urban deltas, and proposes new perspectives for enhancingthe adaptability of these vital regions.Contributions by Robert Broesi, MUST; Richard Campanella, Tulane School of Architecture; Thomas Colbert, University of Houston, Joao Pedro Costa, University of Lisbon; Wolbert van Dijk; Marcel Marchand, Deltares; Han Meyer, TU Delft; Dirk Neumann, MUST; Steffen Nijhuis, TU Delft; Pham Quang Dieu, University of Ho Chi Minh City; Michiel Pouderoijen, TU Delft; Joao Figueira de Sousa, University of Lisbon; Trang Le, National University of Hanoi, Paola Viganò, University of Venice, IUAV; Veronica Zagare, University of Buenos Aires, and a preface by Patricia Belton Oliver (Dean Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, University of Houston).