The Role of an Automated GIS in the Development and Management 
of Renewable Natural Resources of Northeastern Brazil. 
William C. Kennard, Harendra S. Teotia, and Daniel L. Civco 
Laboratory for Remote Sensing, U-87, The University 
of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA, 
Commission No. VII 
ABSTRACT 
Northeastern Brazil is primarily semi-arid and contains areas that are 
undeveloped or underdeveloped. Effective development requires a detailed 
understanding of the natural resources including soils, geology, 
hydrology, vegetation,land use and land cover, climate, topography, etc. 
The geographical information system (GIS) is a major spatial data handling 
tool for solving complex natural resource planning problems. In the 
initial phase, we are studying selected areas of four states: Paraiba, 
Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, and Piaui. Later the studies will cover 
all nine states of the Northeast. Major objectives of the study are to: 
(1) determine aspects and characteristics of a GIS, (2) design an 
appropriate GIS, (3) prepare procedures for acquiring data, (4) prepare 
procedures for data input, and (5) develop plans for training Brazilian 
personnel and for technology transfer. 
Data for the GIS come from two sources: universities, federal and state 
agencies, and from interpretation of Landsat Thematic Mapper and SPOT 
imagery. Two up-to-date software systems are being utilized: The Earth 
Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) which is raster oriented, and 
pcARC/INFO which handles data in vector format. Both are used to prepare 
resource planning scenarios and to maintain spatial data planes. Thus, 
the GIS will be used to store, retrieve and analyze the myriad data 
required to develop effective long-range plans. 
INTRODUCTION 
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) generally are used to store large 
volumes of spatial data derived from a variety of sources, including 
remote sensors, and to efficiently retrieve, manipulate, analyze and 
display these data according to user-defined specifications for entire 
regions or parts of a region. A GIS can facilitate decision-making based 
upon analysis of complex spatial interrelationships in a rapid, 
cost-effective manner. 
This paper describes a remote sensing and spatial data analysis procedure 
for the development and management of earth resources data about 
northeastern Brazil, especially for land use planning in the semi-arid 
regions. 
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