The practice of linking Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and natural resource models has greatly increased in the recent past. Cheaper and more powerful computing resources have allowed us to build systems that minimize the effort and labor involved in parameterizing simulation models. However, by using computerized means to minimize the effort needed to facilitate model parameterization we have increased the complexity in these links between the two components. We have also increased the amount of knowledge required to build the link and have increased the need to understand the consequences of building the links between two systems. The practice of linking these two components creates new issues that affect both the GIS analyst and the researcher. The goal of this research project has been to develop an application linking GIS-based geo-processing tools developed in the Automated Geospatial Watershed Assessment (AGWA) tool to an internet-based map interface. The application allows a user to develop a management scenario by delineating a watershed based on one or more outlet points. The application uses the delineation and other input data sets to develop input parameter files for a hydrologic model, which then runs and produces output for the user. The development of the application produced many interesting issues, but the one identified as most important in terms of this dissertation research was an issue related to using current software development tools such as the Universal Modeling Language (UML) and software design patterns as a way to communicate about system requirements and system functions between programmers and project stakeholders. This research will examine how these software development tools were used to develop DotAGWA, the consequences of using the tools and an analysis of why these tools may be an important component in developing natural resource projects that rely heavily on GIS tools.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:55:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GabriellaCMS_DISSERT.pdf: 3451606 bytes, checksum: 1ee33015b3633fb79771b6160bff6a6c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-25 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The municipality of Areia Branca is within the mesoregion of West Potiguar and within the microregion of Mossor?, covering an area of 357,58 km2. Covering an area of weakness in terms of environmental, housing, together with the municipality of Grossos-RN, the estuary of River Apodi-Mossor?. The municipality of Areia Branca has historically suffered from a lack of planning regarding the use and occupation of land as some economic activities, attracted by the extremely favorable natural conditions, have exploited their natural resources improperly. The aim of this study is to quantify and analyze the environmental degradation in the municipality. Thus initially was performed a characterization of land use using remote sensing, geoprocessing and geographic information system GIS in order to generate data and information on the municipal scale, which may serve as input to the environmental planning and land use planning in the region. From this perspective, were used a Landsat 5 image TM sensor for the year 2010. In the processing of this image was used SPRING 5.2 and applied a supervised classification using the classifier regions, which was employed Bhattacharya Distance method with a threshold at 30%. Thus was obtained the land use map that was analyzed the spatial distribution of different types of the use that is occurring in the city, identifying areas that are being used incorrectly and the main types of environmental degradation. And further, were applied the methodology proposed by Beltrame (1994), Physical Diagnosis Conservationist under some adaptations for quantifying the level of degradation or conservation study area. As results, the indexes were obtained for the parameters in the proposed methodology, allowing quantitatively analyze the degradation potential of each sector. From this perspective, considering a scale of 0 to 100, sector A and sector B had value 31.20 units of risk of physical deterioration. And the C sector, has shown its value - 34.64 units degradation risk and should be considered a priority in relation to the achievement of conservation actions / O munic?pio de Areia Branca-RN est? inserido na mesorregi?o Oeste Potiguar e na microrregi?o de Mossor?, abrangendo uma ?rea de 357,58 km2. Compreende uma ?rea de fragilidade do ponto de vista ambiental, pois abriga, juntamente com o munic?pio de Grossos- RN, o estu?rio do rio Apodi-Mossor?. O munic?pio de Areia Branca vem sofrendo historicamente com a falta de planejamento no tocante ao uso e ocupa??o do solo, uma vez que algumas atividades econ?micas, atra?das pelas condi??es naturais favor?veis, t?m explorado os recursos naturais de forma inadequada. O objetivo deste estudo ? quantificar e analisar a degrada??o ambiental no referido munic?pio. Para isso, inicialmente foi realizada uma caracteriza??o do uso do solo, utilizando sensoriamento remoto, geoprocessamento e um sistema de informa??es geogr?ficas - SIG, visando gerar dados e informa??es na escala municipal, que possam servir de subs?dio para o planejamento ambiental e o ordenamento territorial da regi?o. Nessa perspectiva, utilizou-se uma imagem Landsat 5, sensor TM referente ao ano de 2010. No processamento desta imagem foi utilizado o SPRING 5.2 e aplicado uma classifica??o supervisionada atrav?s do classificador por regi?es, onde foi empregado o m?todo Bhattacharya Distance com um limiar 30%. Com isso foi obtido o mapa de uso do solo a partir do qual analisou-se a distribui??o espacial dos diferentes tipos de uso que ocorrem no munic?pio, identificando ?reas que est?o sendo utilizadas de maneira incorreta e os principais tipos de degrada??o ambiental. Em prosseguimento, aplicou-se a metodologia proposta por Beltrame (1994), o Diagn?stico F?sico-Conservacionista, sob algumas adapta??es, para obter a quantifica??o do n?vel de degrada??o ou conserva??o da ?rea de estudo. Como resultados, foram obtidos os ?ndices para os par?metros propostos na metodologia, permitindo analisar quantitativamente o potencial de degrada??o de cada setor. Nessa perspectiva, considerando uma escala de 0 a 100, o setor A e o setor B apresentaram valor 31,20 unidades de risco de degrada??o f?sica. E o setor C, demonstrou valor 34,64 unidades de risco de degrada??o, devendo ser considerado prioridade no tocante ? realiza??o de a??es conservacionistas