Contested Infrastructures: Tension, Inequity and Innovation in the Global Suburb

Abstract

The article explores the suburban infrastructure reality at a global scale. It does so by acknowledging both the wide diversity of suburban forms across the world and the existence of common features that warrant the apprehension of suburbs as a unified object of study. Due to their rapid growth rate and an insufficient infrastructure development response, suburbs are perceived as more severely afflicted by infrastructure tensions than other urban sectors. They thus provide an ideal object of study to identify urban infrastructure shortcomings in the present age. At the same time, by virtue of their infrastructure difficulties and ongoing expansion, suburbs can be seen as a foremost source of infrastructure innovation.

本文探讨全球范围城郊基础设施的现实状况。一方面，世界各地城郊的形态相距甚远，另一方面，各地的城郊地区又有一些共同特征，使之能够成为一个整合的研究对象。由于城郊发展迅速，而基础设施发展不足，因此这些地区基础设施的紧张状况较城市地区更为严重。这些地区也因此成为理想的研究对象，可通过这些地区了解现阶段城市基础设施的短缺。同时，由于城郊基础设施不足，又处于迅速发展中，这些地区还可能成为基础设施更新的最佳源头。

Keywords:

• Suburb
• infrastructure
• global
• inequality

Notes

1. Our definition of experts pertains to individuals who possess technical knowledge relevant to infrastructures and are members of professions – mostly planning, engineering and management – involved in the different facets of infrastructure development, maintenance and operation.