Geoenvironmental site investigation using different techniques in a municipal solid waste disposal site in Brazil

Different geoenvironmental site investigation techniques to assess contamination from a municipal solid waste disposal site in Brazil are presented here. Superficial geophysical investigation (geoelectrical survey), resistivity piezocone penetration tests (RCPTU), soil samples collected with direct-push samplers and water samples collected from monitoring wells were applied in this study. The application of the geoelectrical method was indispensable to identify the presence and flow direction of contamination plumes (leachate) as well as to indicate the most suitable locations for RCPTU tests and soil and water sampling. Chemical analyses of groundwater samples contributed to a better understanding of the flow of the contaminated plume. The piezocone presented some limitations for tropical soils, since the groundwater level is sometimes deeper than the layer which is impenetrable to the cone, and the soil genesis and unsaturated conditions affect soil behavior. The combined interpretation of geoelectrical measurements and soil and water samplings underpinned the interpretation of RCPTU tests. The interpretation of all the test results indicates that the contamination plume has already overreached the landfill's west-northwest borders. Geoenvironmental laboratory test results suggest that contamination from the solid waste disposal site has been developing gradually, indicating the need for continuous monitoring of the groundwater.

Interpretation of Resistivity Piezocone Tests in a Contaminated Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Site

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prediction of Soil Properties from the Concepts of Energy Transfer in Dynamic Penetration Tests

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Energy efficiency for standard penetration tests

The need for standardization of the measured blow count number N-spt into a normalized reference energy value is now fully recognized. The present paper extends the existing theoretical approach using the wave propagation theory as framework and introduces an analysis for large displacements enabling the influence of rod length in the measured N-spt values to be quantified. The study is based on both calibration chamber and field tests. Energy measurements are monitored in two different positions: below the anvil and above the sampler. Both experimental and numerical results demonstrate that whereas the energy delivered into the rod stem is expressed as a ratio of the theoretical free-fall energy of the hammer, the effective sampler energy is a function of the hammer height of fall, sampler permanent penetration, and weight of both hammer and rods. Influence of rod length is twofold and produces opposite effects: wave energy losses increase with increasing rod length and in a long rod composition the gain in potential energy from rod weight is significant and may partially compensate measured energy losses. Based on this revised approach, an analytical solution is proposed to calculate the energy delivered to the sampler and efficiency coefficients are suggested to account for energy losses during the energy transference process.

Análise geoambiental da região de marília, SP: Suscetibilidade a processos erosivos frente ao histórico de ocupação da área

The study area comprises the western portion of the Marília Plateau, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The geological substrate encompasses Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Bauru Group and local Neocenozoic units like colluvium aprons, fluvial terrace deposits, in situ regoliths, and modern alluvial deposits. In a geomorphologic sense, the study area might be characterized as showing two main pediplanes, viz. P1 Surface (upper) and P2 Surface (lower), both surfaces are presently under dissecation processes. After the 1920's the expansion of the railroad system fostered the removal of the natural vegetation, which in turn was followed by the introduction of coffee, peanut, corn and cotton crops. This intense exploitation was conducted without respect to the soil carrying capacity and its natural susceptibility to erosional processes, including an aggressive form known as voçoroca. As a result, the study shows that the most susceptible material includes colluvium aprons, in situ regoliths, and colluvium-alluvium or alluvium deposits. The most critical situation is in the P2 Surface context, near the bottom of the Marília Plateau scarpment, where surface runoff can be very strong. Another point of active erosion is represented by the exposed walls of gullies and voçorocas, mainly in fluvial reaches subjected to talweg lowering. In a general sense, this study shows current evidence of erosional stability due to the ìntroduction of pastures as a predominant type of land occupation and to a series of erosion control procedures. Among these actions are terrace implantation, construction of small pits for runoff control, natural or induced reforestation by land owners. Despite these efforts, some erosion points remain chiefly in steeper country roads and trail stretches, in areas of concentration of cattle tracks (e.g., near cattle ponds), gullies or voçorocas exposed walls, and badly planned urbanization. The permanence of these erosion points demonstrates the necessity of a continuous monitoring of surface dynamics as well as a rapid and effective intervining measures of erosion and/or silting control.

Mapeamento geoambiental como subsídio na determinação de áreas de instabilidades da faixa de dutos Osvat/Osplan - São Sebastião, SP

Works of linear engineering such as roads, pipelines and transmission lines have specific mapping due to their large scale impact on the environment, thus requiring mapping methods that are both efficient and of low cost. This paper presents a proposal of Geoenvironmental mapping for works linear. The work chosen for the implementation of the method was the Osvat/Osplan pipeline located in the cities of São Sebastião and Caraguatatuba. The geoenvironment mapping was elaborate trough photo-interpretation of images of the ETM+/Landsat-7 sensor and analysis of the drainage network, thus resulting in the partitioning of the geoenvironmental units and the fracture area (structural lineaments and lines of strikes), these maps were subsequently integrated into a product called Map of environmental susceptibility to gravitational and erosive processes, which helped define the areas with potential geotechnical problems that could damage both the pipeline and the environment.

Zoneamento geoambiental aplicado ao planejamento da gestão ambiental e territorial do município de Colorado D'Oeste, RO

This research is based on the physical characterization of the environment to support definition of the best land use for the county of Colorado D'Oeste, in State of Rondônia, Brazil. Remote sensing and geoprocessing techniques were applied to support the preparation of a Geoenvironmental Zoning, which was used to define strategies of territorial and environmental management in that county. Digital and analogical remote sensing products, acquired by satellites, and additional cartographic and thematic maps allowed a morphostructural analysis to define low and high structural associated study site tectonic. Subsequently, this information was used to support analysis of the physiographic compartmentation of the study area. Based on this study information, it is possible to define geoenvironmental subzones and local hidrological regime, soils, mineral components, texture, color, and sedimentary materials. By integrating previous described information, a synthesis cartographic map generated. Accordingly, this Cartographic Sheet spatially defined the best land use over the study area, indicates zones for conservation, agricultural, and regeneration (areas that should be recovered). Finally, the results of this research can contribute and support governmental and non-governmental organization and local communities could improve land use and soil management, avoiding natural resource destruction and future land scarcity in the county of Colorado D'Oeste.

Aspectos fisiográficos do município de Rio Claro - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Zoneamento geoambiental da região compreendida pelas folhas topográficas São José dos Campos e Jacareí-SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Zoneamento geoambiental como subsídio na determinação de áreas de instabilidade em faixas de intervenção de dutos

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Carta geoambiental (1:50.000) e trilhas interpretativas da zona turística do Vale do Pati, Chapada Diamantina-BA

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Alterações ambientais decorrentes da presença de depósitos tecnogênicos na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão Anicuns em Goiânia, GO

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Identificação e caracterização de zonas de captura e concentração de águas subterrâneas a partir de produtos de sensoriamento remoto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Zoneamento geoambiental como subsídio aos projetos de reforma agrária. Estudo de caso: assentamento rural Pirituba II (SP)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)