Mapping of land coverage and land use of the Metropolitan Region and Lowlands of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Introduction: The intensification of flows from the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro towards the Costal Lowlands demonstrates the existence of an metropolization axis between the aforementioned regions. Objective: To map changes and the current diversity of land uses and land covers in the Metropolitan Region and the Costal Lowlands, in order to investigate the existence of a structuring metropolization axis, as well as the increase of urbanized areas accompanied by the decline of vegetation coverage. Method: Use of the Google Earth Engine platform, with images from the Landsat 5, Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 satellites, according to images from the years 1984, 2001 and 2021, with of ArcGis software tools and RPA images (Remotely- Piloted Aircraft) to validate the mapping of land coverage and land use and structuring investments in the axis. In addition, the overlapping of areas of Conservation Units in the Land Coverage and Land Use maps to contribute to the visualization of the axis. Results: The Structuring Infrastructures map, superimposed on the Land Coverage and Land Use maps, reveals a patch of urbanization, with urban clusters connected through highways and other infrastructures responsible for structuring the metropolization axis between regions. Furthermore, a reduction followed by recovery of the “Forest Area” is noticeable, associated with environmental degradation, followed by conservation policies and environmental protection. Conclusion: It is understood that changes in land use and land coverage patterns are one of the faces of the metropolization process in the studied axis.