GIS in the evaluation of areas for urban occupation of João Pessoa/PB

Abstract

The capabilities and restrictions of the areas for urban occupation in João Pessoa city, Paraíba state, are evaluated by the elaboration and analysis of cartographic documents in numerical and thematic format, based on the adequateness of the physical environment according to the natural and urban characteristics, through methodologies using geographic information system. For the evaluation of the areas susceptible to the occupation, the database was represented by the following criteria: slope degree, unconsolidated material, rocky substratum, depth of the water table, the distance from the populous areas, and the environmental restrictions. The Boolean logic was used to model the data with abrupt spatial variation and the Fuzzy logic was used to model the data with continuous spatial variation. As results, maps were produced with continuous surface, with degrees of aptitude to urban occupation which ranges from 0 (not appropriate) apto 1 (appropriate). The analysis results showed that in João Pessoa city, with a total area of 208.25 km2, about 40% was considered inappropriate for urban occupation.