Open AccessFeasibility Assessment of Sugarcane Expansion in Southwest Goiás, Brazil Based on the GIS Technology
Author(s) -
Bruno Cardoso Pedrosa,
Tuani Cristine Lima de Souza,
A. P. D. Turetta,
Heitor Luis da Costa Coutinho
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geographic information system
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2151-1969
pISSN - 2151-1950
DOI - 10.4236/jgis.2016.82014
Subject(s) - geography , land cover , investment (military) , agriculture , land use , agricultural economics , agroforestry , environmental protection , environmental science , economics , engineering , political science , civil engineering , archaeology , politics , law
The current study approaches the sugarcane culture expansion in Southwestern Goiás, especially in Mineiros, Quirinópolis and Rio Verde counties, which represent different times and responses to this process. The current logistics structure and future prospects for sugarcane and its derivatives transportation are studied at national level with emphasis to the aforementioned micro-region. Maps showing land use and land cover in three different years were generated from Landsat TM-5 satellite images and they were used to analyze the dynamics of changes in land use and in land cover. The region is marked by strong and rapid growth in the agricultural sector and its sugar-energy industry has been expanding in recent years, although with different aspects among its counties. Since it is a promising region in this sector, due to the favorable soil and weather conditions to the crop, the region requires more investment and planning in logistics to ensure production flow and to make it stronger within domestic and foreign markets.201