Institut Teknologi Bandung

This webinar discussed spatial changes and urban dynamics in contemporary Indonesian cities, focusing on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail megaproject.

David, who employs an infrastructure studies approach in his research, explained how the high-speed rail megaproject connects Bandung's urban space in new ways and creates unique urban dynamics. "This high-speed rail project exemplifies how infrastructure plays a role in connecting urban spaces and producing unforeseen impacts," he said.

David's research, inspired by the "Global China" subfield in Chinese studies, seeks to address the real impacts of the megaproject on local communities, beyond the global narratives often depicted in maps and international agreements. "The infrastructure studies approach emphasizes the real experiences of communities affected by megaprojects," he stated.

David highlighted the importance of understanding the relationship between infrastructure and the social and spatial conditions at each location. "This research attempts to understand the relationship between these two areas, both similarities and differences, in the context of the impact of the high-speed rail megaproject," he said.

He explained that the high-speed rail project is not only a transportation technology project but also one that influences economic growth and spatial governance in Bandung. He observed the growth of new urban centers around the high-speed rail stations, connected to new flows of people and capital.

"This research attempts to understand how new forms of urbanization occur in Bandung, where the boundaries between urban and rural areas become blurred. The movement of people, capital, and economic activities triggered by this new infrastructure creates unique patterns of urban growth," he said.