Brazilian frontier governance: survey of infrastructure based on remote sensing techniques

摘要

This paper discusses the detection of borders vulnerability through remote sensing. Remote sensors enable government to collect rapidly synoptically data from areas where the access is restricted. Accordingly, we propose a preliminary survey of Brazil's borders and its structures by using remote sensing techniques. The extent of the area is a difficulty, as Brazilian borders measures more than 15,000 kilometers in total and marks the limit to 10 countries. The methodology used can be summarized in the following steps: (ⅰ) choosing twelve sample-areas along Brazil's frontier vis-a-vis each neighboring country, focusing on the existent infrastructure; (ⅱ) defining classes of land-use and land-cover based on the elements of visual image interpretation; (ⅲ) creating an image interpretation key; (ⅳ) measuring spectral signature from different targets. Results allow creating a hierarchical model of bodies related to the visual image interpretation element and spectral curves. This model has been divided between natural and anthropogenic features, it is compared the infrastructure, land-cover and land-use from distinct parts along the Brazilian land border. It is concluded there are serious problems of frontier governance due to Brazil's border is very heterogeneous.