Temporal analysis of the reduction in gas emission in areas of mechanically-harvested sugarcane using satellite imagery

The primary objective of this study was to estimate the amount of gas not emitted into the air in areas cultivated with sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) that were mechanically harvested. Satellite images CBERS-2/CCD, from 08-13-2004, 08-14-2005, 08-15-2006 and 08-16-2007, of northwestern São Paulo State were processed using the Geographic Information System (GIS)-IDRISI 15.0. Areas of interest (the mechanically-harvested sugarcane fields) were identified and quantified based on the spectral response of the bands studied. Based on these data, the amount of gas that was not emitted was evaluated, according to the estimate equation proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The results of 396.65 km(2) (5.91% for 2004); 447.56 km(2) (6.67% for 2005); 511.54 km(2) (7.62% in 2006); and 474.60 km(2) (7.07% for 2007), calculated from a total area of 6,710.89 km(2) with sugarcane, showed a significant increase of mechanical harvesting in the study area and a reduction of gas emissions of more than 300,000 t yr(-1).

Evolução do uso da terra entre 1996 e 1999 no município de Botucatu-SP

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a evolução do uso da terra no município de Botucatu - SP, no período de três anos, considerando-se seis tipos de cobertura vegetal (cana-de-açúcar, reflorestamento, floresta nativa, pastagem, cítrus e outros), tendo como base as imagens de satélite Landsat 5, bandas 3; 4 e 5, órbita 220, ponto 76, quadrante A, passagem de 8 de junho de 1999. O Sistema de Informações Geográficas - IDRISI for Windows 3.2, foi utilizado para as análises. Os resultados mostraram que esse programa foi eficiente para auxiliar na identificação e mapeamento das áreas com uso da terra, facilitando o processamento dos dados. As imagens de satélite TM/LANDSAT 5 forneceram um excelente banco de dados para a classificação supervisionada. O município não vem sendo preservado ambientalmente, pois apresenta-se coberto com menos de 20% de florestas nativas, mínimo exigido por lei. As áreas de pastagem, principal componente da paisagem do município, confirmam a vocação da região para a pecuária.

Análise da dinâmica espaço-temporal de macrófitas submersas mapeadas com técnicas hidroacústicas no reservatório de Taquaruçu, rio Paranapanema

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento da vegetação submersa, em termos da altura dos dosséis, considerando as dimensões espaço e tempo, usando técnicas de hidroacústica. Foram realizados dez levantamentos de campo no período de outubro de 2009 a dezembro de 2010, para aquisição de pontos georreferenciados de altura dos dosséis, frequência de ocorrência de vegetação, bem como de profundidade. Medidas limnológicas também foram feitas, a fim de verificar se suas variações poderiam explicar a distribuição espacial das macrófitas. Os dados de vegetação foram analisados por levantamento e por profundidade; além disso, compuseram um banco de dados implementado em um Sistema de Informação Geográfica. Foram então interpolados e das superfícies resultantes foram geradas cartas, que indicam a distribuição espacial do crescimento ou decaimento da vegetação. Modelos em três dimensões dos dosséis foram produzidos, para representar a ocupação volumétrica das macrófitas submersas. Os resultados mostraram que houve significativa redução da infestação de um ano para outro. Observou-se, ainda, que os maiores dosséis concentram-se em uma profundidade de 2 a 4 m. O mapeamento identificou tanto áreas de crescimento quanto de decaimento, distribuídas de modo heterogêneo. Não foi possível observar relação direta das medidas limnológicas com a dinâmica da vegetação, pois não apresentaram variação espaço-temporal significativa. Foi possível estimar o volume ocupado pelas macrófitas submersas, e a tendência observada é de que o aumento de volume é precedido por uma aparente homogeneização dos dosséis.

Uso do solo e análise temporal da ocorrência de vegetação natural na fazenda experimental Edgardia, em Botucatu-SP

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

Proposta de zoneamento ambiental visando a proteção dos recursos hídricos de uma bacia hidrográfica

One of the most important natural resources for sustaining human life, water, has been losing the basic requirements of quality and quantity sufficient enough to attend the population due to water contamination'problems, often caused by human beings themselves. Because of this, the sources of this resource are often located in remote places of the natural environment to ensure the quality of the water. However, when urban expansion began to occupy these areas, which were once regarded as distant, environmental pollution problems began to occur due to occupation of the land without planning. Based on this occurrence, this study aims to propose environmental zoning for the Maxaranguape river watershed in order to protect its water resources. This is important because this river can serve as a source of supply for the metropolitan area of Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte. In accordance to this proposition, the model of natural soil loss vulnerability (CREPANI et al., 2001), the model of aquifer pollution vulnerability (FOSTER et al., 2006), and the legal incompatibility map (CREPANI et al., 2001) were used to delimit the zones. All this was done with Geographic Information System (GIS) and also created a geographic database update of the basin. The results of the first model mentioned indicated that 63.67% of the basin was classified as moderately stable / vulnerable, 35.66% as moderately vulnerable, and 0.67% as vulnerable. The areas with high vulnerability degree correspond with sand dunes and river channels areas. The second model indicated that 2.84% of the basin has low vulnerability, 70.27%) has median vulnerability, and 26.76% and 0.13% has high vulnerability and extreme vulnerability, respectively. The areas with the highest vulnerability values also refer to part of the sand dunes and river channels besides other areas such as Pureza urban area. The legal incompatibility map indicated that the basin has 85.02 km2 of Permanent Protection Area (PPA) and 14.62% of this area has some incongruity of use. Based on these results it was possible to draw three main zones: Protection and Sustainable Use Zone (PSUZ), Protection and Environmental Restoration Zone (PERZ) and Environmental Control Zone, which are divided into A, B and C. The PSUZ refer to the coastal areas of the basin, where the sand dunes are located. These sites should be areas of environmental protection and of sustainable urban expansion. The ZPRA refer to river channels, which are in high need of rehabilitation. The third zone corresponds to the rest of the basin which should have, in general, the mapping of possible sources of contamination for further control on the use and occupation of the river

Sensoriamento remoto hidroacústico no mapeamento de macrófitas aquáticas submersas

Macrófitas são importantes produtoras primárias do ecossistema aquático, e o desequilíbrio do ambiente pode ocasionar seu crescimento acelerado. Portanto, levantamentos de dados relacionados a macrófitas submersas são importantes para contribuir na gestão de corpos de água. Contudo, a amostragem dessa vegetação requer um enorme esforço físico. Nesse sentido, a técnica hidroacústica é apropriada para o estudo de macrófitas submersas. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os tipos de dados gerados pelo ecobatímetro e analisar como esses dados caracterizam a vegetação. Utilizou-se o ecobatímetro BioSonics DT-X acoplado a um GPS. A área de estudo é um trecho do Rio Uberaba, MG. A amostragem foi feita por meio de transectos, navegando de uma margem à outra. Depois de processar os dados, obteve-se informação a respeito de ocorrência de macrófitas submersas, profundidade, altura média das plantas, porcentagem da cobertura vegetal e posição. A partir desse conjunto de dados, foi possível extrair outras duas métricas: biovolume e altura efetiva do dossel. Os dados foram importados de um Sistema de Informação Geográfica e geraram-se mapas ilustrativos das variáveis estudadas. Além disso, quatro perfis foram selecionados para analisar a diferença entre as grandezas de representação de macrófitas. O ecobatímetro mostrou-se uma ferramenta eficaz no mapeamento de macrófitas submersas. Cada uma das medidas - altura do dossel, ECH ou biovolume - caracteriza de forma diferente a vegetação submersa. Dessa forma, a escolha do tipo de representação depende da aplicação desejada.

Uso de técnicas de Geoprocessamento e Sensoriamento Remoto no levantamento e integração de dados necessários a gestão ambiental dos campos de extração de óleo e gás do Canto do Amaro e Alto da Pedra no município de Mossoró - RN

The objective of this work is to identify, to chart and to explain the evolution of the soil occupation and the envirionment vulnerability of the areas of Canto do Amaro and Alto da Pedra, in the city of Mossoró-RN, having as base analyzes it multiweather of images of orbital remote sensors, the accomplishment of extensive integrated works of field to a Geographic Information System (GIS). With the use of inserted techniques of it analyzes space inserted in a (GIS), and related with the interpretation and analyzes of products that comes from the Remote Sensoriamento (RS.), make possible resulted significant to reach the objectives of this works. Having as support for the management of the information, the data set gotten of the most varied sources and stored in digital environment, it comes to constitute the geographic data base of this research. The previous knowledge of the spectral behavior of the natural or artificial targets, and the use of algorithms of Processing of Digital images (DIP), it facilitates the interpretation task sufficiently and searchs of new information on the spectral level. Use as background these data, was generated a varied thematic cartography was: Maps of Geology, Geomorfológicals Units soils, Vegetation and Use and Occupation of the soil. The crossing in environment SIG, of the above-mentioned maps, generated the maps of Natural and Vulnerability envirionmental of the petroliferous fields of I Canto do Amaro and Alto da Pedra-RN, working in an ambient centered in the management of waters and solid residuos, as well as the analysis of the spatial data, making possible then a more complex analysis of the studied area

The definition of potential infiltration areas in Guaratingueta watershed, Paraiba do Sul Basin, Southeastern Brazil: an integrated approach using physical and land-use elements

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

Estimativa populacional e uso do hábitat do boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) no litoral sul do Rio Grande do Norte

Four areas are known as of frequent usage by Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in the south coast of Rio Grande do Norte state, northeast Brazil: Tabatinga, Pipa, Lagoa de Guaraíras and Baia Formosa. This extension of 40 km of shoreline is under increasing anthropogenic impacts due to continuous development of the coastal areas and vessel traffic. The objective of this study was to investigate aspects of population biology and habitat use of the population of Sotalia guianensis in the south coast of Rio Grande do Norte. It was applied the photo-identification technique and posterior methods of capture-recapture for population estimation (POPAN extension in MARK). The distribution, movement and site fidelity of the dolphins were analyzed trough the geographic information system (GIS) and group characteristics and behavior trough non-parametric statistics. Field work was conducted on board a 10m motor vessel from March 2008 to March 2009. Photo-identification effort was 329h with 113h of direct observation of the dolphins. The population estimatives for each area: Tabatinga: 75 (63-92); Pipa 105 (88-129); Lagoa de Guaraíras: 27 (18-54) e Baia Formosa: 112 (89-129) individuals. Total population estimative was: 223 (192 a 297). High site fidelity was detected for only part of the population (<15%) as low site fidelity and transients individuals were also detected (>20%). It was observed frequent movements between Tabatinga, Lagoa de Guaraíras and Pipa, but not Baía Formosa. This suggests a division in two communities along this shore extension: one in Pipa and other in Baía Formosa. Group size was small, most groups with up to 10 dolphins. The areas were use intensively, only in Lagoa de Guaraíras dolphins were not seen in all field trips. Lagoa de Guaraíras is an area used by small groups exclusively for foraging. In Tabatinga and Pipa dolphins concentrated close to the shore, in the inner sector of the area and the main activity is also foraging. Significant larger groups were seen in socializing behavior but there was no difference in group size between the inner and external sectors of the area. The presence of calves and juveniles were significant greater in the inner areas of Tabatinga and Pipa, confirming the hypothesis that these beaches are also used for parental care. In Baia Formosa dolphins concentrated in the outer sector and foraging was also predominant. Significant larger groups were seen in the outer sector, mainly engaged in mixed behaviors of travel/foraging, possibly in some kind of group foraging. Calves and juveniles were significant more present in the outer sector where group size was also larger. In general there was no difference in area usage and period of the day. Sotalia guianensis has characteristics that make the species vulnerable to human activities such as small population concentrated in patches of suitable habitats restrict to coastal areas. We hope that this study bring new information for the species and help for the adequate management of the area in order to assure the presence of the dolphins as well as its behavior pattern and gene flow betweencommunities.

Desigualdade regional da mortalidade neonatal no Brasil

In Brazil, despite the decline in infant mortality in recent decades it still has high rates going against recommended by WHO. Being the largest percentage of infant mortality rate composed of neonatal deaths. Objective: A study was conducted to analyze the spatial distribution of neonatal mortality and its correlation with the biological, socioeconomic and maternal and child health care in the Brazilian states in the period from 2006 to 2010. Method: The study made thematic maps and correlation (LISA) for verification of spatial dependence and multiple linear regression models. Results: Was found that there is no spatial autocorrelation for neonatal mortality in the Brazilian states (R = 0.002, p = 0.48). Most of variables were correlated (r> 0.3, p <0.05) with neonatal mortality, forming clusters in the North and Northeast, with the highest rates of teenage mothers, low household income per capita, lower prenatal appointments and beds of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The number of Neonatal UCI beds remained independent effect after regression analysis. Conclusion: The study concludes that regional inequalities in living conditions and especially the access to maternal and child health services contribute to the unequal distribution of neonatal mortality in Brazil

GeOntoQuery - um mecanismo de busca em bancos de dados geográficos baseado em ontologias

Geographic Information System (GIS) are computational tools used to capture, store, consult, manipulate, analyze and print geo-referenced data. A GIS is a multi-disciplinary system that can be used by different communities of users, each one having their own interest and knowledge. This way, different knowledge views about the same reality need to be combined, in such way to attend each community. This work presents a mechanism that allows different community users access the same geographic database without knowing its particular internal structure. We use geographic ontologies to support a common and shared understanding of a specific domain: the coral reefs. Using these ontologies' descriptions that represent the knowledge of the different communities, mechanisms are created to handle with such different concepts. We use equivalent classes mapping, and a semantic layer that interacts with the ontologies and the geographic database, and that gives to the user the answers about his/her queries, independently of the used terms

Inundações urbanas no semiarido nordestino: o caso da cidade de Pau dos Ferros - RN

The Apodi river basin, particularly within the snippet that crosses Pau dos Ferros - RN city, place anthropogenic actions that interfere in the dynamic environment by modifying the local landscape. The reflection of these actions can be seen in the floods that occur in rainy periods (February to may) virtually every year in the city. It is important to stress that the project of integration of the waters of the San Francisco basin with the northern basin of Northeastern will perennial the main channel of the river basin, and generate greater impacts in the region. This work sought to define a methodology able to delimit areas susceptible to flooding in cities of semiarid Northeast based on the Pau dos Ferros RN city. The dissertation is divided into two chapters and introduction. The introduction presents a theoretical frame based on discussion of the concept of risk, their main characteristics and subdivisions; floods; geotecnologies; Apodi River basin; municipal data Pau dos Ferros RN and design integration of Francisco basin with the northern basins Northeast. The first chapter evaluates the urban expansion process between 1987 and 2008, delimiting the flood areas and analyzes the relationship between urban growth and retention areas. The second chapter identifies the flood risk areas in the Pau dos Ferros city. The methodology used was based on tools of geographic information system GIS from software SPRING/INPE 5.1, as well as bibliographical, satellite images, aerial photographs and field activities. The results obtained enabled view the rapid expansion of the urban area of Pau dos Ferros, which has doubled in a period of 22 years. The population density checks with greater intensity in South-central portion of the city, in flood areas and not flood (Cap. 01). It was noted also that some neighborhoods along the River Apodi are susceptible to more instances of flooding ranging from minimum to maximum, while in neighborhoods near the Riacho Cajazeiras floods occur to a lesser extent because of altimetry higher and lower water volume. (Cap. 02). It is expected that this work will help in the preparation of flood risk municipal map subsidising managers in implementing public policies targeted to the softening of urban flood-related issues in Pau dos Ferros RN and serve as a model for mapping of other cities with similar characteristics analyzed in this work

Degradação ambiental no município de Cerro Corá RN por técnicas de geoprocessamento

The processes of occupation and evolution of natural environments as a result of a disorderly process of implementing economic practices agrosilvopastoris play today an important role in the degradation process of changing the landscape and natural resources of the semiarid Northeast. The Serra de Santana has natural elements important to the state of Rio Grande do Norte as the source of the Potengi. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the degree of degradation in the municipality of Cerro Cora - RN. We used satellite images Landsat-5 and census data for the year 2008. The method made use of geotechnology which includes land use, NDVI, rainfall, livestock and erodibility in the evaluation of environmental degradation, as well as satellite images of Landsat TM-5, in the years 1984, 1995 and 2008, letters of NDVI, census data regarding the socioeconomic obtained from IBGE. The results showed that the absolute majority in the municipality of Cerro Cora has a low to medium susceptibility, which together represent 63.92% of the municipality, with a regression of disturbed areas and the areas of agriculture, and a recovery of the areas of Caatinga , coming to occupy currently 92% of the municipal territory. A Geographic Information System is indispensable to environmental monitoring of Cerro Cora / RN

Diagnóstico da degradação ambiental no município de Areia Branca-RN por geotecnologias

The municipality of Areia Branca is within the mesoregion of West Potiguar and within the microregion of Mossoró, covering an area of 357,58 km2. Covering an area of weakness in terms of environmental, housing, together with the municipality of Grossos-RN, the estuary of River Apodi-Mossoró. The municipality of Areia Branca has historically suffered from a lack of planning regarding the use and occupation of land as some economic activities, attracted by the extremely favorable natural conditions, have exploited their natural resources improperly. The aim of this study is to quantify and analyze the environmental degradation in the municipality. Thus initially was performed a characterization of land use using remote sensing, geoprocessing and geographic information system GIS in order to generate data and information on the municipal scale, which may serve as input to the environmental planning and land use planning in the region. From this perspective, were used a Landsat 5 image TM sensor for the year 2010. In the processing of this image was used SPRING 5.2 and applied a supervised classification using the classifier regions, which was employed Bhattacharya Distance method with a threshold at 30%. Thus was obtained the land use map that was analyzed the spatial distribution of different types of the use that is occurring in the city, identifying areas that are being used incorrectly and the main types of environmental degradation. And further, were applied the methodology proposed by Beltrame (1994), Physical Diagnosis Conservationist under some adaptations for quantifying the level of degradation or conservation study area. As results, the indexes were obtained for the parameters in the proposed methodology, allowing quantitatively analyze the degradation potential of each sector. From this perspective, considering a scale of 0 to 100, sector A and sector B had value 31.20 units of risk of physical deterioration. And the C sector, has shown its value - 34.64 units degradation risk and should be considered a priority in relation to the achievement of conservation actions

Avaliação de impacto ambiental e gestão dos recursos natuarias no estuário Apodi Mossoró, nordeste do Brasil

The aim of this study is to investigate the eco-environmental vulnerability, its changes, and its causes to develop a management system for application of eco-environmental vulnerability and risk assessment in the Apodi-Mossory estuary, Northeast Brazil. This analysis is focused on the interference of the landscape conditions, and its changes, due to the following factors: the oil and natural gas industry, tropical fruits industry, shrimp farms, marine salt industry, occupation of the sensitive areas; demand for land, vegetation degradation, siltation in rivers, severe flooding, sea level rise (SLR), coastal dynamics, low and flat topography, high ecological value and tourism in the region and the rapid growth of urbanization. Conventional and remote sensing data were analyzed using modeling techniques based on ArcGIS, ER-Mapper, ERDAS Imagine and ENVI software. Digital images were initially processed by Principal Component Analysis and transformation of the maximum fraction of noise, and then all bands were normalized to reduce errors caused by bands of different sizes. They were integrated in a Geographic Information System analysis to detect changes, to generate digital elevation models, geomorphic indices and other variables of the study area. A three band color combination of multispectral bands was used to monitor changes of land and vegetation cover from 1986 to 2009. This task also included the analysis of various secondary data, such as field data, socioeconomic data, environmental data and prospects growth. The main objective of this study was to improve our understanding of eco-environmental vulnerability and risk assessment; it´s causes basically show the intensity, its distribution and human-environment effect on the ecosystem, and identify the high and low sensitive areas and area of inundation due to future SLR, and the loss of land due to coastal erosion in the Apodi-Mossoró estuary in order to establish a strategy for sustainable land use. The developed model includes some basic factors such as geology, geomorphology, soils, land use / land cover, vegetation cover, slope, topography and hydrology. The numerical results indicate that 9.86% of total study area was under very high vulnerability, 29.12% high vulnerability, 52.90% moderate vulnerability and 2.23% were in the category of very low vulnerability. The analysis indicates that 216.1 km² and 362.8 km² area flooded on 1m and 10m in sea levels respectively. The sectors most affected were residential, industrial and recreational areas, agricultural land, and ecosystems of high environmental sensitivity. The results showed that changes in eco-environmental vulnerability have a significant impact on the sustainable development of the RN state, since the indicator is a function of sensitivity, exposure and status in relation to a level of damage. The model were presented as a tool to assist in indexing vulnerability in order to optimize actions and assess the implications of decisions makers and policies regarding the management of coastal and estuarine areas. In this context aspects such as population growth, degradation of vegetation, land use / land cover, amount and type of industrialization, SLR and government policies for environmental protection were considered the main factors that affect the eco-environmental changes over the last three decades in the Apodi-Mossoró estuary.