Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) Using Space Syntax: A Case Study of Urban Parks in the South of Brazil

This study is based on strategies for reading and representing the environment,associated with the theory of social logic of space(space syntax).The general objective of this study is to understand and compare the use of space syntax in relation to connectivity,integration and choice of axial routes of the urban parks of Porto Alegre,in the state of Rio Grande do Sul,south of Brazil.The method applied was the capture of georeferenced images for data analysis by using the Theory of Space Syntax(TSE).Thus,three variables were considered for interpretation:choice,connectivity and integration,and they were correlated to statistical data on urban morphology.The results demonstrated the possibility of obtaining significant improvements in the studied urban parks due to the need to create guidelines related to connection and integration that directly impact users'choice strategies when they move around the city.

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.

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.