Setorização de áreas de riscos geológicos e hidrológicos na zona urbana de Estrela do Sul, Minas Gerais

Abstract

The comprehension of the needs of the urban population exposed to the risk of natural disasters is paramount for the implementation of effective mitigation and recovery measures. Globally, these events pose social, economic, and natural problems when they impact environmentally fragile urbanized regions, where the low-income population is often the most affected, thereby increasing the demand for geological-geotechnical studies. In this perspective, the present work proposes a risk zoning with a focus on mass movements and hydrological processes in the city of Estrela do Sul. The risk zoning was carried out on a scale ranging from 1:1,000 to 1:2,000, exclusively covering inhabited regions. The zoning of areas of interest considered a methodological sequence involving literature research, preparation of cartographic base, cartographic data processing, fieldwork, subsequent interpretations, map production, and monograph development. Thirteen risk sectors were classified, six of which were related to high to very high risks, and seven were of medium risk, subject to constant monitoring. It was observed that hydrological processes dominate the urban zone due to the proximity of residences to the Bagagem River and its tributaries, as well as the absence of measures aimed at monitoring or mitigating the assessed risk areas. Few sectors were characterized regarding the possibility of accidents related to mass movements, and apparently, these are associated with the implementation of cuts and embankments without any technical guidance. This study portrays the current situation of these locations; however, there is a need for continuity in the work, considering that geological processes and human interaction with the environment are constantly changing.