Development of a tool for the analysis of urban expansion and occupation of rural areas: a study in the city of Novo Hamburgo

Abstract

In the last years, it has been observed in the populations a tendence for a better quality of life and a greater contact with the nature. This behavior intensified with the pandemic Covid-19 period, where a migration to rural regions and a search for houses with more space can be observed, thus increasing the growth of these regions. Thus, the main objective of this study is to elaborate a tool for evaluating the sustainable urban expansion in rural areas. Such evaluation is carried out through multicriteria analysis, where aspects such infrastructure and the probability and challenges for the region to have sustainable expansion. Through this tool it will be possible to evaluate the occupation of rural areas, with an easy-to-operation analysis instrument using the multicriteria analysis. The use of this technique helped to validate the tool with the consulted specialists, bringing an even broader view to it due to the multidisciplinary of the respondents. The tool allows us to carry out this survey using the bibliography, public documents and field visits, thus being able to have actualized information of great importance for the construction of action plans for an expansion in rural areas, contemplating the socio-environmental and economic needs.