Utilização do Google Earth como plataforma para delimitação de Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP's): um estudo de caso no município de São Leopoldo

Abstract

Nowadays our society experience a change of paradigm seeking for sustainability. Through the development of new technologies associated with GIS have been possible to measure environmental problems much more precise. Google Earth provides satellite images for free for those with internet access. In many places these images are high resolution and capable of being used in many activities of urban and environmental planning. In this manner, the main objective of this work was through the use of high-resolution images available for free at Google Earth and using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to examine the feasibility of using the same definition of Areas of Permanent Protection (APPs) of the municipal district of São Leopoldo / RS. Although secondary objectives are presented as a method of structuring the resulting mosaic of scenes captured on Google Earth, check the Cartographic Accuracy Standard (PEC) of the mosaic and the proposal of a Geographic Information System (GIS) for low cost in order to help the environmental management of cities, small and medium businesses. As results from statistical tests applied to analyze the image quality and georeferenced according to the classification of Decree Law 89817 - Cartographic Accuracy Standard concluded that the image of Google Earth developed through scenes captured the 5900 meters in altitude may be framed in a class B and scale 1/15.000. All this served as a base map reference for generation of APPs, such as around fountainheads, along the water courses, wetlands and native forests, for the following percentages of territorial occupation: 9.90%, 11.11 %, 13% and 17% respectively. In terms of the research findings showed that the satellite images with high resolution of Google Earth (associated with a network of GPS points) can be used efficiently in the appearance of a more precise localization and quantification of APPs. The products generated by this study associated with the cadastral plan of the city will appear as a important toll with low cost for an integrated planning of activities in various departments of the municipal district.