Author(s)

S. M. F. da Costa

Abstract

This research detected and evaluated the urban growth of the city of S5o Jod dos Campos, located in the state of SHo Paulo, Brazil, and analyzed the environmental effects, as a consequence of the process of urban growth without town planning, using remote sensing data and geographical information system technologies, during the period of larger urban transformation: 1950 to 1997. The urban area was mapped using aerial photographs (obtained in 1953, 1962, 1973, and 1985) and a SPOT Pan image, obtained in September 1997. It was possible to evaluate the main urban growth axes during this period using these data. During this period, the urban area grew more than 1800%, and this growth followed, predominantly (80% of the area), the best site, occupying flat areas (slope between 0 and 5%). Considering the physical poten

Keywords