Geoindicators based on field survey for land degradation in loam areas characterization

• Grant number: 11/18484-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Geotechnical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: José Augusto de Lollo
• Grantee: Laís Andréia Martinez
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Soils and sediments exploitation for their usage as raw construction materials causes several environmental impacts. These activities imply excavations that can change surface water circulation processes resulting in erosion and silting creating degraded areas. In the past, the absence of laws controlling these exploitations results in several areas of environmental liabilities. One of these locations was the region surrounding Ilha Solteira Dam. In previous projects (#2005/57386-1 and #2006/01962-7) we proposed and tested several geoindicators in order to determine degradation levels in these areas using in-field (including surveys like mechanical and geophysical soundings) and laboratory tests in soils. In this project is proposed the use and check off more simple geoindicators (emphasizing erosion processes that occurred post areas deactivation), surveyed from field observation, and its validation based on previous (field and laboratory) surveys from older projects. Degradation intensity classification must permit recuperation alternatives purposes for each case. Confirming the efficacy of the proposed goeindicators, can be an interesting alternative for quick and low-cost degradation evaluation.(AU)