Resumen

CORDOVA SAEZ, Karenia. Spacial Geotechnology Apply to the Decrease of Vulnerability and Risk in the Urban Area Caracas-Venezuela. Terra [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.46, pp.13-28. ISSN 1012-7089.

In recent decades, urban heat waves, extreme droughts and forest fires have been reported with increasing frequency, disturbing environmental dynamics and quality of life for residents located in cities. The intensity of these weather events in urban areas is associated with the substitution of natural surfaces with dry surfaces, which alter the surface radiation balance, thereby producing a temperature increase in urban areas. This phenomenon is known as urban heat islands, and their intensity and extent depends not only on the physical properties of natural and artificial surfaces present in urban areas, but also with seasonality, and other phenomena such as climate variability and climate change. Using geotechnologies, particularly using the thermal band (6-2) of LANDSAT 7 ETM + sensor, it is possible to observe changes in the patterns of surface temperature variability and determine the intensity and extent of the heat island phenomenon in city. In the study the integration of geospatial data is also addressed as a resource to identify vulnerabilities and improving risk management and mitigation strategies, related to the phenomenon of urban heat islands that can be adapted in the case of the city of Caracas. Also, green mitigation strategies, like green corridors, green roofs, green facades etc., are revised as well as passive or reflective mitigation strategies. This study is expected to contribute to reducing vulnerability and risk to the population, associated with the intensity and extension of these phenomena in the urban area of Caracas city.

Palabras clave : heat islands; geotechnologies; urban areas; vulnerability; risk.