Urban expansion and susceptibility to flood and landslide in the metropolitan region of Aracaju

Abstract

The concentration of population and socioeconomic development exert significant pressure on coastal zones, accentuating natural processes and underscoring the importance of integrated management that assesses the hazard and socio-environmental vulnerability of these environments. Human activities, such as unplanned urbanization, dune removal, sand extraction, and dam construction, contribute to the environmental fragility of coastal systems. In this sense, the objective of this study is to understand the drivers and impacts of urban expansion in the Metropolitan Region of Aracaju (MRA), through cartographic analysis, to evaluate areas susceptible to floods and landslides, aggravated by unplanned urbanization and real estate expansion. The integration of geospatial data and multidisciplinary analyses is essential to identify critical areas and thus support mitigation strategies. The challenges faced by the MRA reflect a national and global reality of growing urbanization and pressure on coastal zones. This study reveals an annual increase rate of approximately 2.2 km²/year of urbanized area in the MRA, considering the period from 1985 to 2022, particularly significant in low-slope areas and susceptible to flooding, notably in the expansion zones in Aracaju and Barra dos Coqueiros. Urban expansion in the region shows no signs of slowing down, with a tendency to continue occupying flood-prone areas and, due to unplanned growth, increasing the risks associated with settlements in landslide-prone areas.