Urban Cemeteries in Southern Brazil: An Analysis of Planimetric Variations, Vegetation Indices and Temperature

Urban cemeteries have the potential to negatively impact the quality of health of populations in their immediate vicinity.Thus,it becomes important to understand the factors influencing the potential to disperse contamination.This study examined the altimetry,Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)and Land Surface Temperature(LST)in five urban cemeteries in the City of Passo Fundo/RS,in the south of Brazil,and the possible potential for the proliferation of contaminating agents present in these cemetery spaces in relation to a radius of 300 meters(m).The methodologies used Landsat 8 satellite images to sample the altimetry,NDVI and LST,applied to a regression model,to analyze the dispersion factors of the correlation of collected data.The results showed a trend of contamination of the environment by urban cemeteries in Passo Fundo,in the regions with the highest population density and the lowest vegetative cover.

Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries

Urban cemeteries are increasingly surrounded by areas of high residential density as urbanization continues world-wide. With increasing rates of mortality caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2,urban vertical cemeteries are experiencing interments at an unprecedented rate. Corpses interred in the 3rd to 5th layer of vertical urban cemeteries have the potential to contaminate large adjacent regions.The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the reflectance of altimetry, normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI) and land surface temperature(LST) in the urban cemeteries and neighbouring areas of the City of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is assumed that the population residing in the vicinity of these cemeteries may be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 contamination through the displacement of microparticles carried by the wind as a corpse is placed in the burial niche or during the first several days of subsequent fluid and gas release through the process of decomposition. The reflectance analyses were performed utilizing Landsat 8 satellite images applied to altimetry, NDVI and LST, for hypothetical examination of possible displacement, transport and subsequent deposition of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The results showed that two cemeteries within the city, cemeteries A and B could potentially transport SARS-CoV-2 of nanometric structure to neighboring residential areas through wind action.These two cemeteries are located at high relative altitudes in more densely populated regions of the city.The NDVI, which has been shown to control the proliferation of contaminants, proved to be insufficient in these areas, contributing to high LST values. Based on the results of this study, the formation and implementation of public policies that monitor urban cemeteries is suggested in areas that utilize vertical urban cemeteries in order to reduce the further spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Changes in Rural Areas of the City of Carazinho (RS) between 2001 and 2020: A Temporal Analysis Using Landsat TM-7 and TM-8 Images

The analysis of satellite images is of fundamental importance in relation to understanding the evolution in land use.The general objective of this study is to analyze the changes in characteristics of rural land use in the municipality of Carazinho(RS)from 2001 to 2020 through the analysis of images taken from the Landsat TM-7 and TM-8 satellites.The TM-7 and TM-8 satellite images were classified and supervised,thus generation thematic maps with the following groups:tillage,forest,water resources and exposed soil.The analysis of this study showed that in 2001 the tillage group had an area of 10,651.6 ha,the forest group had an area of 7,248.03 ha,the water resources group occupied an area of 1,444.96 ha,and the exposed soil group occupied an area of 6,798.75 ha.When using the images taken in 2020,the same area presented the following data:the tillage group with an area of 15,941.5 ha.(60.95%),the forest group with an area of 4,320.99 ha(16.52%),water resources group with an area of 141.02 ha(0.53%),and the exposed soil group with an area of 5,747.22 ha(21.97%).The results demonstrate changes in land use during the study period,mainly with regard to the increase of cultivation areas and,consequently,the suppression of vegetation.

Simulations of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Related to the Use of Public Transport for Students in a Higher Education Institution in Southern Brazil

Carbon dioxide(CO2)emissions from motor vehicles have been increasing in large urban centers,thus contributing to air pollution.The general objective of this study is to analyze simulations of CO2 emissions among students who use public transport in the city of Passo Fundo,in the state of Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil.Methodologically,this study was developed in three stages:(1)verification of the time used by higher education students at Faculdade Meridional(IMED)in relation to urban mobility;(2)understanding of the transport mode used by these students,taking into account the one which appears with the highest incidence;(3)simulating CO2 emissions from the modes of transport used by students after the application of the Environmental Impact Simulator(EIS)used by the National Public Transport Association(ANTP,in Portuguese)for the modeling of transport indexes aimed at analyzing CO2 emissions.When considering the total of 3,079 students who assigned to a sample of 66 questionnaires,a reduction of CO2 emissions of 4,527.04 kg during a year in relation to the use of public transport was found.

Remote Sensing Applied to NDVI and LST in Urban Streets in Southern Brazil

Urban evolution becomes a space-transforming agent capable of changing Normalised Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)and Land Surface Temperature(LST)emissivity reflectance on the land surface.Therefore,this study identifies NDVI and LST variations locally,but it can also be applied in other cities on a global scale.In general,it aims to analyse NDVI and LST on surface areas of avenues and urban streets of Sector 1,located in downtown Passo Fundo,in the southern region of Brazil,from 2013 to 2020.Methodologically,treated Landsat 8 satellite images were used to obtain NDVI and LST variations in this study.Subsequently,data of 80 points in the avenues and streets of Sector 1 were collected over a distance of 100 meters spaced from each point.These data were statistically analysed concerning the dispersion of NDVI and LST from 2013 to 2020.The results revealed a strong interaction between NDVI and LST,demonstrating the need to conserve urban vegetation to improve temperature,which positively favours urban ambience indexes.

The Use of Remote Sensing and Landscape Metrics to Analyze Land Use Evolution in Rural Areas of the Municipality of Passo Fundo/RS(Brazil)

The use of remote sensing in the design of land use mapping allows analyses of landscape evolution during a certain period of time which helps studies in a global scope.The objective of this study is to identify and analyze changes in characteristics of rural land use in the municipality of Passo Fundo,located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil,during the years 2001 and 2020,through images taken from the Landsat TM-7 and TM-8 satellites.Methodologically,satellite images were classified by supervised methods,generating thematic maps,and taking into account the following groups:tillage(growing area),forest,exposed soil and water resources.Results demonstrated that the process of connecting agricultural crop patches went from 5.495 in 2001 to a figure of 10.812 in 2020,thus having an increase of 96%.

Architectural Guidelines Aimed at the Resocialization of Brazilian Prisoners

The worsening of the Brazilian prison crisis is the result of multiple factors,aggravated by the lack of maintenance of penal establishments.The overall objective of the manuscript is to analyze the architectural guidelines aimed at resocialization of the Brazilian prisoners in the prisons of Passo Fundo/RS and Santa Luzia/MG.Methodologically,we sought to understand the functionality of the Regional Prison of Passo Fundo/RS(common system)and the prison of Santa Luzia/MG(The Association of Protection and Assistance to the Convicts(APAC)methodology),with architectural guidelines in evaluating the efficiency of prisons.The results showed that architectural conservation and resocialization programs positively influence the decrease in criminal recidivism.

Sustainable Urbanization in a Medium-Sized City in Southern Brazil

Urbanization in Brazil is increasing,mainly in medium-sized cities.This expansion causes varying degrees of environmental impact.The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the resultant impacts that urbanization has had on soil morphology in and around developing areas of the Brazilian city of Passo Fundo/RS.Implementation of the methodology laid out in the Leopold Matrix allowed the location of data for the analysis of the characteristics present in the use of the soil of the study area.Results showed high levels of vegetative loss around the City of Passo Fundo,due to a high degree of urban expansion driven by real estate speculation.The research suggests monitoring the degree of pollution of water resources in addition to regional air quality due to the marked intensity of vehicular flow.

Evaluation Index of Urban Public Bus Stops:Case Study of Passo Fundo/RS-Brazil

Bus stops are key elements of public transport system performance and in attending the population.The general objective of this article is to evaluate the physical conditions of public bus stops in the city of Passo Fundo/RS.Methodologically,statistical analysis of linear regression was used to elaborate the index of functionality of the bus stops,using the city of Passo Fundo/RS as a case study.Results report the conditions of urban public bus stops and discuss assessment and subsidy parameters for public policies for urban restructuring,aiming at improving the quality of public transport in medium-sized cities on a national and international scale.

Geoctenologies Applied to Evolution in Urban Design in a City in Southern Brazil

The evolution process of urban design is the result of transformations due to population increase along the expansion of cities on a global scale.Geotechnologies applied to forms of mapping make it possible to understand the changes that have occurred in urban spaces in relation to temporal space.The general objective of this study is to analyze the change that occurred from the year 2010 to 2021,in the evolution of urban design,in the city of Marau(southern Brazil).The identification of urban evolution in the years 2010 and 2021 was carried out.These data were modeled using the QGIS software,in the SIRGAS(Geocentric Reference System for the Americas)database,related to the evolution of urban design in Marau.The results demonstrate the need to apply geotechnologies not only in the city of Marau,but in other cities worldwide,because city halls need precision maps,avoiding the fragmentation of the urban fabric,a result of population expansion not projected in the built environment.