Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

The methodology followed in this course is oriented towards achievement of the learning objectives. It provides an integrative perspective of the course contents in relation to the other courses of the Master's. It also adopts a professional approach in the analysis and resolution of the problems generated by the spatial planning of the services and transport equipments and infrastructures.

A wide range of teaching and learning activities is implemented, such as participative sessions, practical exercises, individual or group activities, guided activities, field work and autonomous work.

Students are expected to participate actively in the class throughout the course. 

Classroom materials will be available via Moodle. These include a repository of the lecture notes used in class, the course syllabus, as well as other course-specific learning materials, including a discussion forum. 

5.2. Learning tasks

The course includes the following learning tasks: 

• Lectures (30 hours): participative sessions where the main conceptual and theoretical issues are presented.
• Practical activities (20 hours): they include individual or small group work, case studies and problem-based learning.
• Autonomous learning (90 hours).
• Tutorials: Optional individual and/or group tutorials.

5.3. Syllabus

The course will address the following topics:

Section I.

Topic 1: The infrastructure and the equipment in the spatial organization of the territories
Topic 2: The sectoral and spatial variations of the infrastructure and the equipment at various scales
Topic 3: Approaches and principles applicable to the spatial organisation of the infrastructures and equipment

Section II.

Topic 4. The retail activities. Trends and location

Topic 5. The geography of the collective services

Topic 6.  The transport infrastructures

Section III.

Topic 7. Classical theories about the location of retail and equipment

Topic 8. Contemporary theories on the location of equipment

Topic 9. Explanatory models for the demand for transport and communication infrastructures

Topic 10. Explanatory models for the development of transport and communication networks

Section IV.

Topic 11. Advanced methods for the delimitation of areas of influence of equipment

Topic 12. Advanced methods for optimizing locational decisions for equipment

Topic 13: Advanced methods for analyzing network infrastructures and territorial accessibility

5.4. Course planning and calendar

The course lasts 13 weeks, which consist of weekly theoretical and practical seminars. Each seminar will be devoted to the presentation of a main topic of the syllabus.

Further information concerning the timetable, classroom, assessment dates and other details regarding this course, will be provided on the first day of class or please refer to the virtual platform Moodle and the "Facultad de Filosofía y Letras" website (https://fyl.unizar.es/horario-de-clases#overlay-context=horario-de-clases)

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

• Berry, Brian J. L.. Market centers and retail location : theory and applications / Brian J.L. Berry, John B. Parr Englewood Cliffs : Prentice-Hall, 1988
• SIG y localización óptima de instalaciones y equipamientos / coordinadores, Joaquín Bosque Sendra, Antonio Moreno Jiménez Madrid : Ra-ma, D.L. 2004
• Bryson, J.; Daniels, P.; Warf, B.. Services worlds. People, Organisations, Technologies London: Routledge, 2004
• Cuadrado Roura, J.R.: ? Los servicios en la economía española y sus perspectivas de futuro?.Mediterráneo económico Almería : Caja Rural Intermediterránea Cajamar,2010, vol. 16, pp.203-225 [Publicación periódica]
• Dickens, Peter. Location in space : theoretical perspectives in economic geography / Peter Dicken, Peter E. Lloyd . - 3rd. ed. New York [etc.] : Harper Collins, 1990
• Ghosh, Avijit. Location strategies for retail and service firms / Avijit Ghosh, Sara L. McLafferty Lexington : Lexington Books, cop. 1987
• Hanink, Dean M.. Principles and applications of economic geography : economy, policy, environment / Dean M. Hanink New York [etc.] : John Wiley, cop. 1997
• Mérenne-Schoumaker, Bernadette. Géographie des services et des commerces / Bernadette Mérenne-Schoumaker Rennes : Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 2011
• Rodrigue, J.P.; Comtois, C.; Slack, B.. The Geography of tansports systems. London: Routledge, 2013
• Thomas, Isabelle. Transportation networks and the optimal location of human activities : a numerical geography approach / Isabelle Thomas Cheltenham ; Northampton : E. Elgar Pub, 2002

Extensive additional material will be available via the Moodle site of the course.