Contribuição das geotecnologias para divulgação e popularização da geodiversidade, estudo de caso: monumento natural das falésias de Beberibe, Ceará

Abstract

New technologies discovered by geoscientists have enabled the monitoring of the Earth's surface in a dynamic and realistic manner, facilitating the study and representation of environments. The objective of this work is to present the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), Terrestrial LiDAR and Potree geotechnologies as facilitating tools for the visualization and representation of natural environments, promoting the appreciation and dissemination of geodiversity. The Natural Monument of the Beberibe Cliffs and its surroundings, on the eastern coast of Ceará, were chosen due to their geological and geomorphological context linked to their tourist use. The Beberibe Cliffs stand out in the coastal landscape with the occurrence of colored sands, gullies, natural water sources, among other elements that shape the coastal environment. The presence of these elements favors intense tourism in the region, exposing the area to anthropogenic impacts, in addition to natural erosion agents. The collection of information on geodiversity and data acquisition with RPA and LiDAR were carried out in two field visits. The geodiversity reconnaissance field allowed obtaining information about the geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Monument and Praia das Fontes area, as well as observing the potential sites. To analyze the potentials, a consolidated methodology for classifying Geodiversity Sites was applied, observing criteria such as: structural conditions, ease of access and geological/geomorphological, educational and/or tourist potential. From this analysis, it was possible to verify that some of the visited sites have good educational and/or tourist potential, being a suitable environment for educational and recreational activities. After defining the potential Geodiversity Sites, the Monument area was selected to carry out the data survey with RPAS and Terrestrial LiDAR. The data obtained by RPA were processed in the Agisoft Metashape software, to generate the dense point cloud and three-dimensional model of the entire area. In the Terrestrial LiDAR survey, four scans were obtained to represent only one cliff front and were processed in the Recap Pro and Cloud Compare software, respectively, to generate the final dense cloud. Both dense point clouds were exported to Potree in order to make them available online for free. Analyzing the point clouds and the three-dimensional model obtained after processing, the advantages of using geotechnologies in the study area are evident, considering that the data identifies geoforms and their occurrence patterns, as well as the most vulnerable and exposed locations to erosion. Visualizing these features also confirms that the chosen location is suitable for various uses, whether for educational or recreational purposes. Free and online access to point clouds, made possible by Potree, allows users to view, interact with and analyze the data instantly and through different electronic devices. Therefore, from what has been presented, it is possible to verify the effectiveness of using geotechnologies as important tools for the study and popularization of geodiversity. They make it possible to reach audiences of different age groups, locations and social conditions, thus promoting the dissemination of geological, geomorphological and environmental knowledge within society.