For courses in Urban Geography and Urban Planning.   This book covers all the important traditional urban geography topics such as urban spatial structure, central place theory, neighborhood change, and industrial locations analysis, and also expands upon these to include contemporary topics such as global cities, gender, activism, technology, postmodernism, trans-nationalism, sexuality, and environmental justice.  In addition to broad and very current coverage, this contemporary, well-written treatment of urban geography features strong integration of GIS technologies, and thus gives instructors the option to utilize geographic information systems in their teaching. The integration of GIS benefits students by its use as an analytic tool to understand urban phenomenon, and by its importance as a skill for future jobs.  The GIS coverage provides a valuable tool for professors to use to teach and engage students in active learning.

Table of Contents:
(NOTE: Each chapter begins with an Introduction and concludes with a Summary and GIS Exercise.)   1. Urban Geography and the Spatial Display of Urban Environments   The Study of Urban Geography Urban Geography as a Discipline: Its Importance An International View to Urban Geography Analyzing An Urban Issue: Sunbelt Growth The Chicago School and its Link to Urban Geography The LA School of Urban Studies Data and Spatial Analysis in Urban Geography Alternative Approaches to Urban Geography Geographic Information Systems Urban Analysis Using GIS The Approach of the Book Summary An Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis Principles GIS Exercise: Population Growth in the Sunbelt versus the Rustbelt   2. The Dynamics of Cities   Introduction Economic Change Demographic Change Social Change and Socioeconomic Polarization Megacity Profile of Chicago Megacity Profile of Los Angeles Megacity Profile of Mexico City Analyzing an Urban Issue: Changes in Population Ranks Among Areas of Chicago and Los Angeles Summary GIS Exercise:  Rank Mobility Index Applied to Chicago and Los Angeles    3. Defining the Metropolis   Urban and City Concepts and Process Definitions of City, Urban Area and Metropolitan Area International Comparisons City Size Distributions and Census Definitions City as Municipality City as a Built-Up Area City as Metropolis Analyzing an Urban Issue: Metropolitan Definition Other Approaches to Defining the Metropolis: the Case of Mexico Summary GIS Exercise: Metropolitan Area Definitions for Springfield, Missouri: Calculating U.S. Census Concepts   4. The Internal Structure of Cities   Introduction Classic Urban Development Models Concentric Zone Model Sector Model Multiple Nuclei Model Structuralism and Postmodernism: Alternative Perspectives Have the Classic Models Stood the Test of Time? Analyzing an Urban Issue Chicago and Los Angeles Urban Development Patterns Mexico City Urban Density Patterns: Density Gradients Convergence and Divergence from the Classic Models: The Case of Chicago Conclusion GIS Exercise:  Population Density Mapping Comparisons for Chicago, Los Angeles, and Mexico City   5. Systems of Cities   Introduction Central Place Theory Analyzing an Urban Issue: Central Places Hierarchy in Snohomish County, Washington Contemporary Central-Place Research and the Gravity Model City Size Distributions Evolution of the American Urban System Global Cities Contemporary Research on Urban Systems Summary GIS Exercise: Central Place Provisioning in Snohomish County, Washington   6. Neighborhoods   Introduction Concept of Neighborhood Social Life in the City/Urbanism as a Way of Life Gated Communities Change in Neighborhood Racial Composition Analyzing an Urban Issue: Neighborhood Transitions Gentrification Neighborhood Activism Conclusion GIS Exercise: Neighborhood Change in St. Louis: Analysis with Transition Techniques   7. Migration and Residential Mobility   Introduction Concepts and Factors of Migration Models of Migration Behavioral Processes of Residential Mobility Directional Bias in Moving Analyzing an Urban Issue: Accessibility Index in Los Angeles Migration Patterns and Trends in the United States and Australia International Immigration Transnational Identities Case of Immigration Impact on a City: Dominicans in New York City Rural-Urban Migration and China’s Cities Conclusion GIS Exercise: Analysis of Population Potential in Los Angeles   8. Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Poverty   Ethnic Enclaves, Social and Community Identity Concepts and Processes of Race, Ethnicity, and Segregation.  Importance of scale. Centrographic method. Analyzing an Urban Issue: Segregation Cities and Immigrants Waves of Immigration in the U.S. Racial Segregation Emerging Ethnic Hot Spots in the Suburbs Gender Poverty and Its Measurement Poverty in the U.S. and Its Cities Extreme Poverty: the Ghetto Another Type of Poverty: Colonias along the Mexican Border Summary GIS Exercise: Ethnic Change in St. Louis using a Centrographic Method   9. Industrial Location   Introduction Industrial Classification and Location Concepts and Processes Manufacturing Location Theory and Agglomeration Least-Cost Theory Agglomeration Economies Intra-Metropolitan Industrial Location Theories Analyzing an Urban Issue: Intra-Urban Industrial Location Location Quotient A Comparison of Professional Services and Manufacturing Spatial Patterns Industry Location Trends Across Cities High Technology Industry Maquiladora Industry on the Mexico/U.S. Border: A Unique Manufacturing Region Consumer Services and Cities Retail Location Patterns within Cities The Consumer Cities Hypothesis U.S.-Mexico Twin Cities Consumer Interaction on the Border The Geography of Producer Services Summary GIS Exercise: Industry Location with Location Quotient Analysis in Los Angeles   10. Urban Core and Edge City Contrasts   Introduction Central City Decline Urban Sprawl Trends in Urban Development Rates Analyzing an Urban Issue: Urban Sprawl, Its Measurement, and Its Impacts Sprawl Outside the United States: the Case of Sydney, Australia Transportation and Urban Sprawl Edge Cities Smart Growth Portland’s Growth Boundary Summary GIS Exercise: Land Use Conversion in Chicago and Los Angeles   11. Environmental Problems   Introduction  Concepts and Processes of Urban Environment Land Use Water Resources Urban Flooding Solid Wastes Energy Air Pollution Analyzing an Urban Issue: Air Pollution in Mexico City Environmental Justice and Preserving the Natural Environment Conclusion GIS Exercise: Spatial Comparison of Air Pollutants in Mexico City   12. Urban and Regional Planning   Introduction Antecedents Garden Cities Progressive Movement and Zoning Modern Planning: Metropolitan and Regional Planning Growth Management Analyzing an Urban Issue: Land Use Planning Planning for Smart Growth Case Study of Urban Planning for Irvine, California Urban Governance and Urban Politics Technology and Its Influence on the City Other Topics in Urban Planning Viable Downtowns Open Space Planning Planning Challenges in the Developing World Conclusion GIS Exercise: Integrated Spatial Analysis of Land Use Planning in Western Chicago