Evolução Espaço-Temporal da Ocupação Urbana Sobre Áreas Naturais em Ambientes Costeiros

Abstract

This work aimed to perform a multidecadal analysis of the spatio-temporal evolution of urban occupation over natural areas in the South and West Zones of the Natal-RN city, through geotechnologies and field study. Between 1969 and 2013, the impacts of urban expansion on tthe main Permanent Preservation Areas - PPA (banks of rivers and lagoons, and dunes remaining) and their temporal changes were identified and characterized. For this, aerial photographs, satellite images and contour lines were used, in addition to pre-existing information, which allowed the creation of a robust spatial database, which resulted in the construction of evolution maps of impervious areas and the use of and land occupation. In general, it was found that urban occupation advanced about 60% over the studied natural areas. This advance was increasing until 2006, when there was a slowdown in this process, except for the Environmental Protection Zone (EPZ) 03, where the Pitimbu River and its PPA are located, which experienced a more significant loss of area. The urban occupation affected the natural drainage and contributed to the contamination of the groundwater of Natal, due to the increase of the waterproofed area, the release of solid and liquid residues, as well as the removal of the riparian forest, which irreversibly altered the natural landscape. And reduced the quality and quantity of local water resources needed by the population.