Apropriação do relevo e vulnerabilidade socioambiental: análise integrada das unidades de paisagem no município de Arapiraca - AL

Abstract

The appropriation and occupation of landforms in urban spaces are key factors in the intensification of geomorphological processes and in the generation of socio-environmental vulnerabilities, especially in cities experiencing rapid growth and insufficient territorial planning. The central objective of this thesis is to analyze the impact of land use on the establishment of areas of environmental vulnerability within the landscape units of the municipality of Arapiraca, Alagoas, located in the Agreste region of Alagoas, the second-largest urban center in the state of Alagoas. The study is grounded in a systemic approach, based on General Systems Theory, the geosystem concept, and ecodynamics, integrating physical-natural and socioeconomic variables to understand landscape units and their levels of environmental vulnerability and stability. The methodology involved the application of geoprocessing techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including the production of thematic maps of geology, geomorphology, soils, land use and land cover, climate, and hydrography. Environmental vulnerability was assessed using the methodology proposed by Crepani et al. (1996, 2001, 2008). The socio-environmental analysis was complemented by the construction of a sustainability index based on demographic, economic, and infrastructure indicators derived from IBGE census data for the years 1991, 2000, 2010, and 2022, allowing for an evaluation of the temporal evolution of sustainability conditions in the municipality. The results indicate that urban expansion in Arapiraca has occurred in a fragmented and uneven manner, largely disregarding geoenvironmental constraints. This process has intensified erosion, mass movement, flooding, and the degradation of water resources, particularly in landscape units associated with dissected relief surfaces and aggradational plains. These areas exhibit the highest levels of environmental vulnerability, especially in zones of urban expansion and informal occupation. Conversely, areas with better infrastructure and more structured urban planning show higher levels of socio-environmental stability. The study concludes that landform appropriation driven primarily by economic and real estate interests, without adequate consideration of environmental limitations, increases geomorphological instability and amplifies socio-environmental risks. The proposed ecological-economic zoning emerges as a strategic tool to support territorial planning and environmental management, contributing to vulnerability reduction and the promotion of more sustainable urban development in Arapiraca.