MAPEAMENTO DA COBERTURA VEGETAL DA ÁREA URBANA DE RIO VERDE - GO

Abstract

Vegetation cover plays a fundamental role in the environmental quality of cities, contributing to thermal regulation, rainwater infiltration, air quality improvement, and biodiversity conservation. In this context, the present study aimed to map and quantify vegetation cover in the urban area of Rio Verde, Goiás, using remote sensing and geoprocessing techniques. For this purpose, a CBERS-4A satellite image was used and processed in QGIS software through supervised classification using the Random Forest algorithm. Five classes were defined: tree vegetation, grass vegetation, exposed soil, built-up areas, and water bodies. The results indicated a predominance of built-up areas (67.1%), followed by exposed soil (11.4%), grass vegetation (10.8%), tree vegetation (10.2%), and water bodies (0.5%). The analysis revealed differences in the distribution of vegetation cover among neighborhoods, with greater concentration in urban expansion areas and lower presence in consolidated neighborhoods. The Green Area Index per Inhabitant was estimated at 47.78 m²/inhabitant, indicating a high quantitative availability of vegetation cover in relation to the population. However, the uneven spatial distribution demonstrates that this availability does not occur homogeneously throughout the territory. It is concluded that, although Rio Verde has significant vegetation cover in quantitative terms, its distribution represents a challenge for urban environmental planning. In this context, the use of geotechnologies proved effective for diagnosing vegetation cover and as a tool to support territorial management and environmental conservation.