António Guerner Dias

Crise de abastecimento de água em São Paulo e falta de planejamento estratégico

Though the crisis in the water supplying system in the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo (RMSP) was more intensively felt in the 2013-2014 summer, it reveals a chronic problem that has been affecting the whole RMSP for the past ten years. This problem is originated from the lack of a strategic planning that takes into consideration climate issues that could, months before, foresee problems to restore the levels of water resources, allowing measures to be implemented within a reasonable anticipation, therefore reducing the impacts on the population. This study shows how it is possible to use climate information in the strategic management of the water supply in the RMSP.

ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN BRAZILIAN AND PORTUGUESE STUDENTS

Although undergraduate students have great access to environmental information, it does not mean that an environmental behavior is being developed. With the use of a scale applied to 1035 university students from Brazil and Portugal, it was examined how the environmental behavior of these students is structured. Using multivariate statistical techniques, it was verified that there is a similarity in the environmental behavior of both groups, with environmental beliefs being manifested by an opposition to the anthropocentric view. The environmental attitudes have the concerns related to the environment as their predecessor. These concerns influence the option to control economic growth, which is reinforced by the ecocentric point of view of the respondents and is manifested by the perspective of a decrease in production and in consumption as well as the promotion of welfare. Although there is a tendency, the option for green consumption is not fully accomplished.

Assessing Groundwater Vulnerability to Pollution through the DRASTIC Method

Groundwater pollution is a constant concern. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provide useful tools to manipulate the variables that can be used prevent/minimize these issues. This article presents the development of a tool to produce maps under a GIS open source environment. The application was developed through Quantum GIS (QGIS) software. The tool is developed based on DRASTIC method and incorporates some procedures under a plugin. The Drastic method comprises several steps and several maps: Depth to groundwater (D), Net Recharge (R), Aquifer media (A), Soil media (S), Topography (T), Impact of Vadose Zone (I) and Hydraulic Conductivity (C). These maps are produced according to indexes defined by Aller et al (1987), [2]. One of the main advantage of this application is the easiness to use. The user can generate the maps according to his perception regarding field conditions. The application is free for the institution or user and presents a great contribution to predict the intrinsic vulnerability pollution through GIS open source.

Results from Geospatial Analysis of Resistivity to Delineate Contamination Anomalies: A Case Study of a Controlled Dump ‐ North Portugal

The assessment of contaminant dispersion in Controlled Dumps (CD) of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is possible through the combination of geophysical, geochemical and statistical methods. The methodology applied in this study will contribute to evaluate the environmental consequences of the Matosinhos CD (N Portugal), which is set in a granitic crystalline geological context with a permeability controlled by differential weathering which, in turn, is associated with fracturing. The statistical methods that we will describe are usually used in geochemical anomaly determination and were adapted to be used with resistivity data obtained from twenty-two 2D profiles performed around the CD. The data set was inverted and the results were processed and visualized by a 3D software application that we are currently developing. Groundwater samples were also collected in piezometers, upstream and downstream of the CD, with the aim of directly confirming the presence of contaminants indirectly detected by the geophysical and geostatistical methods described before. The combination of these different approaches allows, in our opinion, an improved approach towards the detection and delineation of contaminant plumes from these deposits.

Gerenciamento dos Resíduos de Demolição Gerados nas Obras de um Edifício Localizado na Zona Leste da Cidade de São Paulo/SP

Com o crescimento da construcao civil, a geracaode residuos provenientes deste setor passou a consistir em um importanteproblema a ser sanado. Formas de reaproveitamento destes residuos e odesenvolvimento de modelos de gestao tem sido a tonica de diversos trabalhosapresentados ao meio tecnico no intuito de se mitigar os efeitos causados peloimpacto da construcao civil no meio ambiente, tanto natural, quanto urbano.Contudo, a ausencia de politicas publicas objetivas que considerem comoproblema real a geracao, manuseio e deposicao destes residuos ainda constituem-secomo importantes empecilhos na adocao de praticas de sustentabilidade. Estetrabalho apresenta o estudo da viabilidade economica do reuso de residuos dedemolicao na construcao do contrapiso do subsolo de um edificio localizado nazona leste da cidade de Sao Paulo. Por meio dos estudos conduzidos pode-seconcluir que a reutilizacao “in loco” dos residuos gerados na obra conduziu avantagens economicas significativas, uma vez em que foram reduzidos os custosde transporte, necessario para disposicao final destes, e custos de aquisicaode materias primas naturais

Statistical Method to Delineate Resistivity Anomalies Associated with Contamination from a Controlled Dump - N Portugal

The assessment of contaminants dispersion in Controlled Dumps (CD) of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is possible through the combination of geophysical, geochemical and geostatistical methods as described in this paper. The methodology applied in this study will contribute to evaluate the environmental consequences of the Matosinhos CD (N Portugal), which is set in a granitic crystalline geological context with a permeability controlled by differential weathering associated with fracturing. The statistical methods here described (Lepeltier, 1969; Matschullat et al. 2000) are adapted to use in geophysical data obtained from the resistivity profiles performed in the CD surroundings by the electrical resistivity method. Groundwater samples were collected in piezometers; upstream and downstream of the CD, with the aim of directly confirming the presence of contaminants indirectly detected by the geophysical and geostatistical methods. The combination of these different approaches allows an approach to the detection and delineation of contaminant plumes from these deposits.