Megacities are an extreme product of the urbanization process that is shaping the planet. Rather than merely concentrating on the negative effects - like poverty and slums - the three scientists draw attention to the new opportunities that megacities equally provide. For example, the more people are living in one space, the faster and more sustainable the exchange of goods or the access to them can be.

Showing the development and complexity of modern megacities, the authors give research suggestions and define a megacity resilience framework which is the basis for their practical proposals for policy-makers.