Potencial de expansão e de preservação ambiental no processo de urbanização da Zona Sul de João Pessoa-PB

Abstract

The spatial structures of cities reflect forms and contents shaped by contemporary multidimensional transformations, layered upon past processes that differ according to each specific context. These structures, increasingly complex, are progressively challenged under the paradigm of sustainability. Consequently, there is a growing urgency to expand research and debates in search of alternatives capable of guiding urban development while simultaneously ensuring environmental preservation. In this regard, the challenge of addressing urban issues presents an opportunity to move beyond monodisciplinary approaches, embracing their inherently interdisciplinary character and fostering broader and more refined discussions. Within the field of geoinformation science, there has been a notable increase in the pursuit of methodologies capable of adequately representing urban complexity, enabling its interpretation and the development of tools to support sustainable urban planning and territorial management. This study, therefore, addresses the themes of environmental preservation and urban expansion potential, focusing on the southern zone of João Pessoa, Paraíba, a region characterized by accelerated urban growth and environmental conflicts commonly associated with urban fringe dynamics. The methodological approach employed multicriteria analysis integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce a synthetic framework identifying areas with potential for both urban expansion and environmental preservation. Multiple criteria were utilized, encompassing potentialities and constraints based on environmental conditions and existing infrastructure. The results highlight areas of significant ecological value recommended for protection and ecological restoration, as well as delineating zones for preferential urban occupation, expansion under conditional infrastructure development, and occupation containment. Based on the analysis of the current urban landscape, the final synthesis proposes a strategic framework for areas prioritized for protection, occupation, and expansion, presenting an alternative model to the ongoing patterns of urban growth. It is expected that the outcomes of this research will contribute to the construction of more sustainable urban structures and that the developed methodology will serve as a flexible and replicable tool for territorial planning and management across different spatial scales.