Utilização do geoprocessamento e imagem de alta resolução para o planejamento do ecoturismo no Morro do Elefante - Santa Maria/RS

Abstract

The present paper has applied geoprocessing techniques in association with space high-resolution images in order to develop an experimental work by generating thematic maps which may be useful for the planning process of the ecotourism. The generated cartographic products were: ecotourism map, use of the land and vegetal covering, clinographic, hypsometric, digital terrain model (DTM), environmental conflicts, areas under erosion risk, areas under flooding risk and with potential fragility for ecotourism activities. The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Idrisi 32 and VistaSAGA 2006, the space high-resolution image of the satellite Ikonos II and the Global Positioning System (GPS) besides other computer programs such as Carta linx 1.2, Campeiro 5.0, Adobe Photoshop CS2, and the Corel Draw 12 have been applied. The work has been accomplished in an area of 1600 hectares where Morro do Elefante is located in the municipal district of Arroio Grande in the city of Santa Maria-RS. The first performed crossings have generated risk maps (erosion and flooding) and conflicts (areas of permanent preservation of draining and nascent used in a wrong way). Subsequently, has been accomplished the crossing of the maps of areas with erosion, flooding and permanent preservation risk originating the map of potential fragility for the ecotourism activities. The areas within the APPs have been considered as the most fragile besides being the ones with highest risk of flooding, erosive processes and of sliding. Thus, we can say that the making of thematic maps is of fundamental importance for the maintainable development of the ecotourism. The use of geoprocessing techniques allows the obtaining of accurate information which for being stored in a digital environment they may be easily crossed and updated by accessing the Geographic Database generating, thus, new information.