Author(s)

Bruno Cardoso Pedrosa¹, Tuani Cristine Lima de Souza², Ana Paula Dias Turetta³, Heitor Luis da Costa Coutinho^3*

¹Department of Environmental Engineering of Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
²Department of Geography of Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Nacional Center for Soil Research (EMBRAPA Soils), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The current study approaches the sugarcane culture expansion in Southwestern Goiás, especially in Mineiros, Quirinópolis and Rio Verde counties, which represent different times and responses to this process. The current logistics structure and future prospects for sugarcane and its derivatives transportation are studied at national level with emphasis to the aforementioned micro-region. Maps showing land use and land cover in three different years were generated from Landsat TM-5 satellite images and they were used to analyze the dynamics of changes in land use and in land cover. The region is marked by strong and rapid growth in the agricultural sector and its sugar-energy industry has been expanding in recent years, although with different aspects among its counties. Since it is a promising region in this sector, due to the favorable soil and weather conditions to the crop, the region requires more investment and planning in logistics to ensure production flow and to make it stronger within domestic and foreign markets.

GIS, Land Use and Land Cover, Sugarcane Expansion, Sustainability

Pedrosa, B. , de Souza, T. , Turetta, A. and da Costa Coutinho, H. (2016) Feasibility Assessment of Sugarcane Expansion in Southwest Goiás, Brazil Based on the GIS Technology. Journal of Geographic Information System, 8, 149-162. doi: 10.4236/jgis.2016.82014.