FORMAS DE CRECIMIENTO URBANO DE LAS CIUDADES MEDIAS ESPAÑOLAS EN LAS ÚLTIMAS DÉCADAS.

The article presents the results of a piece of research into urbanization processes in Spain's medium-sized cities and their urban areas since 1987. The results show that the increases in their urbanized surface areas have been, in relative terms, the most important in the whole of the country's urban territory. Furthermore, this growth has been generated through less dense, more extensive forms and not only related to residential uses. The intensity and sprawling nature of these urbanization processes, particularly during Spain's 'prodigious decade of urban development' (1998-2008), have contributed to a change in the model and structure of the traditionally compact form of these cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]