Physiographic compartmentation by the method of integrated analysis: a case study in Casa Branca, São Paulo State, Brazil

• Main Authors: Ana Maria Carrascosa do Amaral, Fábio Augusto Gomes Vieira Reis, Lucilia do Carmo Giordano, Claudia Vanessa dos Santos Corrêa, Camila Jardinetti Chaves
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2015-03-01
• Series: Geologia USP. Série Científica
• Subjects: Physiographic compartmentation; Integrated analysis; Photointerpretation
• Online Access: http://ppegeo.igc.usp.br/pdf/guspsc/v15n1/02.pdf

There are several procedures of spatialization and individualization of physical environmental units, such as the techniques of remote sensing and geoprocessing. The physiographic compartmentation can be performed by systematic photointerpretation processes of satellite images, trough the analysis of the drainage network’s properties, from the homogeneity and similarities of landscape units. The advantage of applying this technique in environmental planning is the generation of a single cartographic product sectioned into several landscape units, which summarize characteristics of relief, geology and land use. This study aimed at making the physiographic compartmentation in Casa Branca, São Paulo state, based on the integration of data from analysis of satellite images, mapping products, and geological and geomorphological data. The city suffers problems related to lack of urban planning and the development of erosive processes. Analyzing the results, it was concluded that the methodology adopted for the research was very efficient. Therefore, it is expected that this research may support the decisions of urban planning in the city and that the described procedures can be the basis for the development of geo-environmental zoning in other municipalities.