Urban sprawl analysis and modeling in Asmara, Eritreia: Application of Geospatial Tools

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Aplicação de técnica de geoprocessamento em áreas degradadas de mata ciliar e sua correlação com qualidade da água numa subbacia hidrográfica

Studying the physical environment of a watershed is the basic condition for a successful planning of the riparian forest preservation, and for water production and conservation. The aims of the present study were to analyze and quantify the spatial and temporal evolution (1984 and 2010) using Landsat-5 satellite images of Cintra Stream sub-watershed, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, processed by the software IDRISI Andes, as well as to analyze the water quality through the parameters pH, EC, DO and BOD5 at 4 different sites in the years 1999, 2008 and 2009. Considering the 1076.48ha area of the sub-watershed, the pasture class of 1984 was reduced by 25.55% in 2010, resulting in an increase in the remaining classes. The most important class was native forest and reforestation since it had an increase of 5.08%, which indicates recovery of the riparian forest. Degraded areas were identified close to the inferior limit of the sub-watershed (P3 and P4), as well as local contamination (P1 and P2) with worsening of the water quality in the remaining sites in the periods 2008 and 2009. Recovery and management of the ecological succession of degraded areas and water quality monitoring at 1 and 2 sites will be necessary to reestablish the natural condition of the area studied.

Uso de sig e fotografias aéreas na determinação de conflitos na rede de drenagem na bacia experimental do Rio Pardo

This study aimed to detect and evaluate potential conflicts in the land use along the Rio Pardo's tributaries and sub-tributaries from its source which is in Pardinho, SP to the water capture system by the Basic Sanitation Company located in Botucatu, SP. It was used 2005 colored aerial photos, taking as a tool for assessing the Geographical Information System - IDRISI Andes. The results showed that the riparian forests were substituted predominantly by pastures, which is called conflict. In other words, the 1590.82ha of environmental preservation areas (PPA's) that should be protected by riparian forests and meadows (41.51%) in 2005, were used as pastures, being in conflict with the legislation. The aerial pictures associated to SIG-Idrisi proved to be efficient tools in mapping the area and monitoring the environmental impacts.

Diagnóstico da expansão da cultura canavieira e dos conflitos ambientais de uso do solo no Município de Barra Bonita/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Geoprocessamento na identificação de ilhas de calor e influência do uso e ocupação do solo na temperatura aparente da superfície no município de Botucatu/SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação do conflito de uso e ocupação do solo em áreas de preservação permanente da microbacia do Ribeirão Água -Fria, Bofete(SP) visando a conservação dos recursos hídricos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Imagens digitais na análise do uso da terra de uma microbacia como subsídio ao desenvolvimento sustentável

The present work sought to discriminate, to map and to quantify the areas of soil use of the Stream Monte Belo watershed - Botucatu (SP), obtained by digitale images. The cartographic bases were the shart planialtimetric, edited by IBGE (1969) and the satellite images LANDSAT - 7, passages of 21/01/1999, 08/01/2003 and 23/10/2006. The Software Idrisi Andes 15.0 were used for conversion of the analogical information for digital and for determination of the vegetable coverings areas. The results allowed to verify that the SIG - IDRISI Andes 15.0 were efficient in the quantification of the areas with soil use and that the analysis of the data showed a cash progress of the areas of reforestations to the detriment of the areas of pastures, especially from 1999, 2003 to 2006, when the field areas were substituted by the forestry in his totality. In spite of that progress, the forest areas that you correspond to the Permanent Preservation Areas, They are considerably preserved. That result comes to the encounter of the tendency of expansion of the forestry, especially after the installation of cellulose industries in the area, what worsened the environmental problems originating from of the practice of the monoculture.

Geoprocessamento aplicado na influencia do uso e ocupação do solo na temperatura aparente da superfície do município de Botucatu (SP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cultivo da cana-de-açúcar e o uso do solo em áreas de preservação permanente

This study aimed to recognize the significant temporal changes in land use between 1984 and 2008 in Barra Bonita City/ SP and to analyze the conflicts of land use in permanent preservation areas (PPA) with reference to the Forest Code and Resolution N. 303/2002 of CONAMA. The GIS Idrisi Andes 5.0 – geographic information system was used and the images were processed by LANDSAT TM5. Maps of land use were obtained by Maxver supervised classification and showed that in 1984 the area occupied by sugar cane crop was about 10.50 ha (70%) in 1984 and 10.90 ha in 2008. In analysis of conflicts about land use in permanent preservation areas showed that in 24 years the sugar-cane crops increased 3.6% on PPA. The occupation was represented by adequate forest of 279.25 ha (31.5% of total) in 1984. In 2008, the sugar-cane crop was the biggest conflict in PPA occupying 357.9 ha and 11.4% corresponds to areas in preparation for use. This year, 59.5% of total PPA is at odds with environmental legislation.

Geotecnologia aplicada no estudo e planejamento de ocupação e uso do solo em uma bacia hidrográfica para fins agrícolas e conservacionistas

The study aimed to obtain the land use of the watershed Ribeirão Santo Antonio - São Manuel (SP), through the thematic map of the satellite image. The cartographic databases were planialtimetric letter in digital format used in georeferencing and the satellite image. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) -IDRISI Andes 15.0 was use to perform the image georeferencing and to do the thematic map obtained from the visual interpretation the satellite image. The map of land use showed that the culture of sugar cane occupies most of the area (81.00%), when analyzing the satellite image. This result show us the predominance of agricultural occupation in the region. The thematic map obtained by the classification screen, using GIS, allowed the mapping of land use, generating data that will assist in future planning area recovery. The results of the study showed the efficiency, speed and reliability of the tools used, these being very useful for future projects.

Modelizzazione spazio-temporale delle dinamiche di uso del suolo ed analisi comparativa di differenti approcci predittivi. Uso integrato di SIG e telerilevamento nello studio dei processi di deforestazione nella regione La Joyanca in Peten, Guatemala

L’uso frequente dei modelli predittivi per l’analisi di sistemi complessi, naturali o artificiali, sta cambiando il tradizionale approccio alle problematiche ambientali e di rischio. Il continuo miglioramento delle capacità di elaborazione dei computer facilita l’utilizzo e la risoluzione di metodi numerici basati su una discretizzazione spazio-temporale che permette una modellizzazione predittiva di sistemi reali complessi, riproducendo l’evoluzione dei loro patterns spaziali ed calcolando il grado di precisione della simulazione. In questa tesi presentiamo una applicazione di differenti metodi predittivi (Geomatico, Reti Neurali, Land Cover Modeler e Dinamica EGO) in un’area test del Petén, Guatemala. Durante gli ultimi decenni questa regione, inclusa nella Riserva di Biosfera Maya, ha conosciuto una rapida crescita demografica ed un’incontrollata pressione sulle sue risorse naturali. L’area test puó essere suddivisa in sotto-regioni caratterizzate da differenti dinamiche di uso del suolo. Comprendere e quantificare queste differenze permette una migliore approssimazione del sistema reale; é inoltre necessario integrare tutti i parametri fisici e socio-economici, per una rappresentazione più completa della complessità dell’impatto antropico. Data l’assenza di informazioni dettagliate sull’area di studio, quasi tutti i dati sono stati ricavati dall’elaborazione di 11 immagini ETM+, TM e SPOT; abbiamo poi realizzato un’analisi multitemporale dei cambi uso del suolo passati e costruito l’input per alimentare i modelli predittivi. I dati del 1998 e 2000 sono stati usati per la fase di calibrazione per simulare i cambiamenti nella copertura terrestre del 2003, scelta come data di riferimento per la validazione dei risultati. Quest’ultima permette di evidenziare le qualità ed i limiti per ogni modello nelle differenti sub-regioni.

Modelización de la pérdida de suelo en sierras del Sudoeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

El modelo U.S.L.E. (Universal Soil Loss Equation), desarrollado por Wischmeier y Smith en 1978, es un modelo paramétrico creado para estimar la pérdida anual de suelo. Engloba, dentro de los cinco factores intervinientes, todas las características de la cuenca, incluyendo tanto aspectos físicos como características edáficas, geológicas y geomorfológicas, sin olvidar las relacionadas con el clima, y el tipo de manejo y uso del suelo. El objetivo del trabajo fue estimar la pérdida de suelo a nivel de la cuenca hidrográfica del Arroyo Belisario, ubicada en el Partido de Tornquist, en el Sudoeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Más de 1.200 ha (aproximadamente 50% de la cuenca), presentaron pérdidas de suelo mayores a las 50 tn.ha-1.año-1. Se observó que los factores K y LS son determinantes de los elevados valores presentes en la cabecera de la cuenca. La elaboración de la cartografía correspondiente a cada factor de la U.S.L.E se realizó con el Sistema de Información Geográfica Idrisi Andes. Se concluye que el modelo fue aplicado de manera correcta en la cuenca del Arroyo Belisario, brindando resultados que facilitarán la toma de decisiones para un futuro ordenamiento territorial.

Diagnóstico ambiental como subsídio à restauração florestal e manutenção hidrológica da bacia do Ribeirão dos Pinheirinhos, Brotas - SP

A ocupação das margens do Ribeirão dos Pinheirinhos gerou fragmentação da mata ciliar, afetando a dinâmica ambiental do município de Brotas, São Paulo. Neste sentido, os diagnósticos ambientais podem atuar como subsídio indispensável para ações de minimização dos impactos ao meio a médio e longo prazo. O objetivo do trabalho foi diagnosticar as áreas de preservação permanente associadas aos recursos hídricos da bacia do Ribeirão dos Pinheirinhos, visando à determinação de áreas prioritárias à restauração florestal e manutenção hidrológica. Foi utilizado um banco de dados cartográfico digital e o SIG IDRISI Andes para análise espacial e processamento de imagens de satélite LandSat. Foram gerados mapas de: (i) uso e cobertura do solo, pela aplicação do algoritmo de classificação supervisionada de máxima verossimilhança; (ii) uso e cobertura do solo nas áreas de preservação permanente associadas a os recursos hídricos; (iii) distância às nascentes; e (iv) áreas prioritárias à restauração florestal. Houve predomínio dos cultivos agrícolas e solo exposto (73,70%), restando apenas 23,14% de remanescentes florestais. Foi observado que 32,09% das áreas de preservação permanente estão ocupadas inadequadamente, indicando a necessidade de investimento para conservação dos remanescentes florestais, melhor planejamento quanto ao uso do solo e adequação à legislação por parte dos órgãos públicos responsáveis, uma vez que 68,45% da área total foi classificada com prioridade alta a muito alta à restauração, percentual que tende a aumentar com o avanço das fronteiras agrícolas.

Observational evidences on the modulation of the South American Low Level Jet east of the Andes according the ENSO variability

The differences on the phase and wavelength of the quasi-stationary waves over the South America generated by El Nino (EN) and La Nina (LN) events seem to affect the daily evolution of the South American Low Level Jet east of the Andes (SALLJ). For the austral summer period of 1977 2004 the SALLJ episodes detected according to Bonner criterion 1 show normal to above-normal frequency in EN years, and in LN years the episodes show normal to below-normal frequency. During EN and LN years the SALLJ episodes were associated with positive rainfall anomalies over the La Plata Basin, but more intense during LN years. During EN years the increase in the SALLJ cases were associated to intensification of the Subtropical Jet (SJ) around 30 degrees S and positive Sea Level Pressure (SLP) anomalies over the western equatorial Atlantic and tropical South America, particularly over central Brazil. This favored the intensification of the northeasterly trade winds over the northern continent and it channeled by the Andes mountain to the La Plata Basin region where negative SLP are found. The SALLJ cases identified during the LN events were weaker and less frequent when compared to those for EN years. In this case the SJ was weaker than in EN years and the negative SLP anomalies over the tropical continent contributed to the inversion of the northeasterly trade winds. Also a southerly flow anomaly was generated by the geostrophic balance due to the anomalous blocking over southeast Pacific and the intense cyclonic transient over the southern tip of South America. As result the warm tropical air brought by the SALLJ encounters the cold extratropical air from the southerly winds over the La Plata basin. This configuration can increase the conditional instability over the La Plata basin and may explain the more intense positive rainfall anomalies in SALLJ cases during LN years than in EN years.

Out of the Andes: patterns of diversification in clearwing butterflies

Global biodiversity peaks in the tropical forests of the Andes, a striking geological feature that has likely been instrumental in generating biodiversity by providing opportunities for both vicariant and ecological speciation. However, the role of these mountains in the diversification of insects, which dominate biodiversity, has been poorly explored using phylogenetic methods. Here we study the role of the Andes in the evolution of a diverse Neotropical insect group, the clearwing butterflies. We used dated species-level phylogenies to investigate the time course of speciation and to infer ancestral elevation ranges for two diverse genera. We show that both genera likely originated at middle elevations in the Andes in the Middle Miocene, contrasting with most published results in vertebrates that point to a lowland origin. Although we detected a signature of vicariance caused by the uplift of the Andes at the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, most sister species were parapatric without any obvious vicariant barrier. Combined with an overall decelerating speciation rate, these results suggest an important role for ecological speciation and adaptive radiation, rather than simple vicariance.