Mapping of multi-scale relief patterns and territorial planning: Applications at the Geological Survey of Brazil

Abstract

Geomorphological studies conducted by the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB-CPRM) have evolved since the 1970s, with significant methodological advances over the past two decades in institutional projects. In this context, multiscale mapping of landform patterns has become established as a fundamental approach to terrain characterization and support for territorial planning. Based on the integrated interpretation of remote sensing data, including satellite imagery, drone-derived products, and field validation, the proposed methodology enables landforms to be identified and spatially organized according to their morphology, morphometry, genesis, dynamics, and geological controls at different scales. This article presents the methodological evolution and institutional applications of this approach within the SGB-CPRM, based on a literature review and the experience accumulated through geomorphological mapping projects conducted in different regions of Brazil. The methodology evolved from exploratory surveys at a scale of 1:1,000,000 to progressively more detailed analyses at scales of 1:100,000, 1:25,000, and 1:10,000, enhancing the capacity to represent geomorphological features and processes and their application in studies of geodiversity, susceptibility to natural processes, geotechnics, and municipal geomorphological mapping. As a result of this trajectory, the Multiscale Landform Pattern Library was developed, serving simultaneously as a methodological framework for institutional mapping and as a technical and scientific reference for researchers and professionals in the field. The results demonstrate that this approach produces standardized and consistent geospatial information, constituting an effective tool for territorial planning, environmental management, and disaster risk reduction.