"Land use remains a central political and practical issue in contemporary society. In resolving conflicts as to the actual or intended use of particular parcels of land, however, the practitioner faces problems of considerable diversity: while methods of land use data capture are becoming increasingly sophisticated and technical, for instance, the debate between positivists and marxists as to the interpretation of land use patterns is forcing many to reconsider their starting points. This books by David Rhind and Ray Hudson draws together a wide range of studies dealing with various aspects of land use in a text specifically designed to guide students through the complexities of the subject. In five sections, it examines the history of the subject, its techniques, its applications today, models that it applies and the framework within which it has been and continues to be carried out."--Back cover.