| Author | Tang, Zhen Fu |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-85-16 |
| Subject(s) | Regional planning--China (People's Republic of China, 1949- )--Lake Tai Plain
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In the larger region its three middle-sized major cities and ten counties were chosen to constitute the area under study. Within the boundaries thus defined, the three cities and altogether 70 townships were selected from among some 300 existing townships. The selection was guided by the purpose to obtain a fair representation of the existing variation in economic activities and infrastructure. An inventory of agricultural production activities, industrial enterprises, and services , consisting of altogether 131 items, was made in the 73 area units under study. Emphasis was placed on changes that occurred during the last decade. To this end, two sets of data were collected, one each for the years 1974 and 1984. Scalogram and histogram techniques were used to analyse the changing scopes of agriculture, industry, and infrastructure and services. Major changes with regard to both spatial distribution and shift in intensity are highlighted. There is strong evidence of further overall expansion of agricultural production activities, with the noteworthy exception of early rice whose importance had decreased drastically; moreover, the gap between highly frequent and less frequent agricultural production activities had widened. The spatial distribution of industrial enterprises had increased on a large scale, notably in the production of chemical fibres and woolen textiles. Changes in the spatial distribution of infrastructure facilities, utilities and services were few. The major break-through was the utility of piped drinking water supply that had been expanded fourfold. Findings are summarized with foci on groups of area units under study showing complementary characteristics. Four economic subregions are formed: (1) Changzhou-Wujin, (2) Wuxi-Jiangyin, (3) Changshu-Taicang, and (4) Suzhou-Kunshan. Recommendations for planning include the balanced development of a city-township system, the transfer of processing industries to small townships, and the extension of more infrastructure facilities, utilities and services to small townships in rural areas. It is furthermore recommended to conduct follow-up research, once demographic and other relevant statistics become available. |
| Year | 1985 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Weber, Karl E. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Setty, E. Desingu ;Islam, Nazrul ;Kammeier, Hans Detlef |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Canadian International Development Agency(CIDA) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1985 |