Survey of linear structural features from remote sensing - a contribution to the geotechnical mapping in Baturité Mountain, Ceará

Abstract

The use of techniques of digital image processing remote sensing allows applications of great importance for the geosciences. One of the possible fields of application of these resources is the geotechnical mapping. Filtering techniques for radar and optical images emphasize natural linear structures that can be interpreted as fractures, drainages, ridges, valley bottoms and foliation. With the lifting of these data, combined with field work, the geotechnical mapping gains in precision and agility. The high incidence of slope instability events recently occurred in some parts of Brazil, especially in the Southeast, has attracted the interest of researchers in engineering and geoscience areas in the preparation of monographs, dissertations, theses and academic articles that address this issue. For subsequent generation of a diagram rosettes and visualization of regional trend of the structures and preparation of lineament density map, the vectors corresponding to the guidelines direction were measured in azimuth, and the length was measured in meters. The importance of applying frequency spectrum filters is therefore to quantify and qualify these geological and geomorphological structures, which are among the main components of conditions of mass movements and erosion.