This book identifies and discusses research directions, challenges and achievements in contemporary geography. It also documents the most current theoretical and methodological considerations undertaken by scientists representing various sub-disciplines of geography with particular reference to human geography. It was assumed that the thematic structure of the currently active International Geographical Union (IGU) problem commissions corresponds to the most relevant and current research directions in geography. Reflecting this assumption, the book consists of 14 chapters contributed by geographers representing 14 problem commissions of the IGU, which allows us to examine geography from different perspectives and to provide the reader with a complete overview of contemporary research issues in human geography.

Re-thinking cities and the urban: from the global to the local.- From the new world to multiple possible worlds: political geography, geopolitics and border studies.- New and emerging pathways for transport geography.- Geography and geographers in place and time: a view from the international geographical union's commission on the history of geography.- Innovative development of modern agricultural geographic engineering.- Integrating Geography for Global Sustainability and the Earth's Future: the role of International Geographical Union Commission on Geography of Future Earth.- Global change and human mobility in the Anthropocene.- Contribution of Geography and Geospatial Technology to Cope with Hazards and Risks: Implications of GIS Development in Japan.- Marginality issues in a time of world reorganization.- Land Use and Land Cover Changes in a Global Environmental Change Context.- The Contribution of Geography.- Coastal Systems: the dynamic interface between land and sea.- Advances in karst geomoprhology and hydrogeology research in the last decade and its future direction for karst land use planning.- Achievements and challenges of geographical research in Africa.- Issues and dilemmas of local and regional development in geographical research.