Papers by Stephanie Rocha
This research aims to map and analyse the desertification process of part of the Brazilian semi-a... more This research aims to map and analyse the desertification process of part of the Brazilian semi-arid region called Xingó, using technologies of Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Systems. Historically, the Brazilian semi -arid region is inserted in a development model whose economical basis was not linked to the region's social, cultural and environmental contingents. The current challenge consists of conciliating an efficient and recyclable exploration of the limited natural resources of the North-eastern semi-arid region -the "natural capital" -and the urgent necessity for some material development in the rural communities -the "manmade capital". Through the combination of the seasonal series of satelite images and current demographic data, a methodology was estabilished to detect areas, which are degraded or prone to desertification in the six areas surrounding the Xingó Hidroeletric power station, situated between the States of Alagoas and Sergipe. Field research validates the laboratory results, supported by extensive literature r egarding the indicators of desertification and geoinformation technologies. After mapping, evaluating and analysing the deserted areas and manipulating the georeferenced data, using a variety of digital processing techniques and developing a Geographic Information System (GIS), the picture of growing human poverty as well as the environment degradation in the large study area analysed became evident. In the period between 1989 and 2003 there was also significant devastation of the natural vegetation called "Caatinga", an increase in exposed soil and decrease in the farming and pasturing land.
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Papers by Stephanie Rocha