METHODOLOGICAL PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MAP OF LANDSLIDE RISKS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PETROPOLIS

• Main Authors: Patrícia Batista Melo, Antônio José Teixeira Guerra, André Polly Assumpção, Marcos Barreto, Desiree Christine de O. e Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editora da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia 2005-05-01
• Series: Revista Sociedade & Natureza
• Online Access: http://www.sociedadenatureza.ig.ufu.br/include/getdoc.php?id=1305&article=654&mode=pdf

Urban settlement in Petrópolis began in the early 18th Century and, until the present date,it has been happening in a disorganized and problematic way. Throughout all these years, thehillsides have been deforested, rivers have been polluted and silted up and, consequently, thenumber of landslides has increased.Landslides in Petrópolis are historical events. They have been causing losses in humanlives and considerable material damages, such as collapses of bridges, houses, barriers, besidesother minor damages. In general, these losses and damages occur in needy areas whereconstructions are fragile and built in inadequate locations (environmental protection areas,fluid conversion areas, with loose blocks, in places with slopes angle higher than 45º, etc).Landslide problems have been very scary, especially for the local population ofPetrópolis. However, preventable measures of public interest, such as recovery of affectedareas, use of prevention techniques, dislodgement of people from risk areas, and inspection ofirregular settlements, among others, have not been implemented. This can be verified byobserving in the data bank studied, the recurrence of landslides in the same area in previousyears.