- Categorization of 48 Mega-Regions by Spatial Patterns of Population Distribution: The Relationship between Spatial Patterns and Population Change    1536 kb by    Uchiyama, Yuta & Okabe, Akiko | yutanu4@graduate.chiba-u.jp    Short Outline We developed a categorization of mega-regions with two aspects (distribution diversity among different ranges of population densities and spatial patterns of population distribution), and obtained 10 groups that can be related to population change. Abstract The population amount explains just one attribute of a correspondent mega-region. This study attempts to categorize mega-regions by their spatial form. In this paper, mega-regions are defined the areas within a radius of 50km which have more than 10 million people according to LandScan population data (grid resolution: 30arc seconds) and we identified 48 mega-regions in the world. According to this definition, it is not necessarily that these mega-regions contain mega-cities (cities with more than 10million people) as a core. Based on the assumption that spatial distribution of population shows a part of spatial characteristics of them, firstly, distribution diversity among different range of population densities has been examined and 4 categories (1,2,3,and 4) have been identified. Secondly, two-dimensional distribution patterns have been examined by indicators of Moran's I and gravity of main urban area. The smaller the 2 indicators are, the more complex the urban form shows. We classified into 3 categories, A, B, and by the 2 indicators. Integrating 2 different categories above mentioned, we obtained 10 groups of mega-regions, from A-1(less diversity in population distribution and less complex in urban form) to C-4 (more diversity in population distribution and more complex in urban form). One of the findings is that the mega-regions whose population tends to grow fast have relatively high distribution diversity among different ange of population densities and complex urban form. The study also revealed hat the mega-regions whose characteristics are most complicated are concentrated in Asia. The categorization of mega-regions developed in this paper reveals that the mega-regions whose population is similar could have quite different spatial characteristics. The categorization of mega-regions would contribute to cope effectively with their urban issues and forecast their future considering their spatial form. Keywords mega-regions, spatial characteristics, distribution of population, population change, Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2012: Fast Forward: Planning in a (hyper) dynamic urban context   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper